West Ham agree fee for Benni McCarthy
Benni McCarthy looks set to join the Hammers
Tuesday, 26, Jan 2010 05:55
By Michael Younger.
West Ham are set to sign South African striker Benni McCarthy after agreeing an undisclosed fee with Blackburn.
South African striker McCarthy, who played for Ajax and Porto before moving to England, has described the switch to Upton Park as a 'dream move' despite the struggles of the east London side.
Although £110m in debt, the Hammers are said to be prepared to splash out as they fight to remain in the Premier League following the takeover by former Birmingham City owners David O'Sullivan and David Gold.
And manager Gianfranco Zola has admitted the recruitment of a striker before the end of the transfer window is a priority.
"We need more strikers - that is the position we are lacking most at the moment," he said.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce, who has been expecting McCarthy's departure for months after he voiced his frustrations about a lack of first-team opportunities, labelled McCarthy "selfish" for missing training in an effort to force through the move.
Allardyce told BBC Radio: "The only loyalty a player has got is to himself. That's not just Benni, that's all players today.
"It's more about a selfish attitude that they have. If something comes their way that they think they must have, they try their very best to go and get it."
Blackburn have been linked with Turkey international Yildiray Basturk from German side Stuttgart, Stoke's James Beattie and Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who played under Allardyce at Bolton, as a replacement for McCarthy.
Meanwhile, Rovers have been handed some good news on a busy day of transfer rumour, with midfielder David Dunn signing a new contract until 2012.