Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano has edged closer to a potential move to West Ham after a reported training ground spat with Marcelo Bielsa. The Frenchman, who spent last season on loan with West Brom, has been attempting to engineer a move back to the Premier League throughout the summer, with the Hammers one of the clubs in the race to sign the 29-year old. Following a rumoured bust-up with Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa at the club’s training ground, Amalfitano has apparently told the Ligue 1 club he is willing to go on strike in a bid to push through a move to Upton Park before the end of this transfer window.
After starting his career with Sedan, Amalfitano made his name during a successful three years at Lorient before earning a move to Marseille in 2011. Despite establishing himself as a key member of the Marseille squad, Amalfitano linked up with West Brom last season on a season-long loan deal. During his time at The Hawthorns, the midfielder scored four goals in 28 appearances for the Premier League side, including a sensational finish in the Baggies 2-1 victory over Manchester United. After failing to earn a permanent deal with West Brom, Amalfitano returned to Marseille but always made it clear he was determined to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
West Ham’s interest is believed to have sparked Amalfitano’s attention and a move to London is something the Frenchman is rumoured to be keen on exploring, so much so that he could now be about to go on strike in order to force Marseille’s hand. While the Hammers are believed to be leading the race to sign the midfielder, the club appear to be facing a late battle with Hull City for Amalfitano’s signature. While it remains to be seen whether money, location, playing time or manager are the deciding factors in the deal, Hammers fans will be hoping the one-time France international opts for a switch to Upton Park.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Sam Allardyce side, this West Ham team lack any real creativity in the centre of the park. Despite essentially being told he needed to start playing more attractive football if he wanted to keep his job, Allardyce started the season with a very similar looking side to the one who finished last year. Whilst Kevin Nolan has plenty of attributes, there aren’t many West Ham fans overly excited about seeing the former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United man in the number-10 position, pulling the strings for that clinical striker Carlton Cole.
While Amalfitano wouldn’t be the most exciting signing for Hammers fans, it would suggest Allardyce is keen on at least giving this whole “playing football” thing a go. Currently the firm favourite to be the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season with the football betting, Allardyce really needs to add some creativity to his squad before the end of the transfer window. If not, it’s only going to be a matter of time before Big Sam is shown the door.
He has rejected our offer already
l thought he had as well.
left hand not knowing what right hand is doing?
Really, is that why he turned down the contract he was offered and now looks like he heading bach to France – rumour has it we had to offload to sign him anyway, if you ask me it was a perfect opportunity to send Vaz Te packing to make the room, especially as we have no one to cover or provide competition for Jarvis. I like Sam but if there is one thing with him that bothers me its his reliance on very average players to do a job they are incapable of – Sam tactics are dictated by the players he picks, we have strengthened well this summer, and yet CCole and Vaz Te still make first choice selections – its nigh in impossible to improve our play when 2-3 positions are filled with weak links that just drag down any good created by the better players – we need our quality to play with the freedom that brings the best out of them, not have to cover for the inadequacies the weak links generate – Vaz Te, CCole and Demel need to be offloaded regardless.