West Ham United: Daily News Report (6)

West Ham have turned down an £8m offer from Spurs for Carlton Cole.

That bid came at the start of the January transfer window, but Harry Redknapp is ready to revive his interest after his failure to snap up Craig Bellamy.

Tottenham failed in an attempt to sign Cole last summer after they lost Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United.

A number of other clubs also asked about Cole in December, which is why the 25-year-old striker was given a new deal until 2013.

Cole has flourished under the guidance of new boss Gianfranco Zola, scoring nine goals this season.

He has also reached England manager Fabio Capello’s radar, although it is considered ‘premature’ by the England camp to suggest that he is in line for next month’s friendly against Spain.

Spurs are desperate to sign new strikers, with Redknapp believed to be ready to use £17m hitman Darren Bent in part-exchange for Cole. (Daily Star )


SAVIO NSEREKO

West Ham United are close to agreeing a deal to sign Brescia's Savio Nsereko for a fee that could total £10m after club executives spent the past two days in Italy holding talks. The club hope to make an announcement soon over the 19-year-old German, who decided to miss training yesterday and is well known to West Ham's technical director, Gianluca Nani, who was previously with the Serie B club, and manager, Gianfranco Zola.

The investment would be a club record for West Ham, beating the £7.5m spent in July 2007 for Craig Bellamy, who was sold earlier this week to Manchester City for £14m. West Ham hope that if they sign Savio it will demonstrate the commitment given to Zola that, beyond a number of fringe players, the proceeds of any sales would be reinvested.

Savio, an Under-19 international, has been interesting other Italian clubs, including Milan and Napoli, but West Ham hope that the size of their bid will prove successful. One of his agents, Dieter Hamann, confirmed that the club were in the race to sign Savio, who can play in a variety of attacking roles and is on a list of potential signings drawn up by Zola, Nani and chief executive Scott Duxbury. (The Independent)

JOE LEDLEY

Cardiff City have reportedly slapped an £8m price tag on skipper Joe Ledley.

Reports emanating from London suggest that is the sum West Ham would need to pay to prise him away from Ninian Park.

The Hammers have money to spend after off-loading Wales captain Craig Bellamy to Manchester City for £14m.

And Ledley, who turns 22 today, is thought to be at the top of Gianfranco Zola’s shopping list.

Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale has denied suggestions in London that there has already been contact between Cardiff and the Hammers.

However, sources within Upton Park insist a deal could still be on and, while they have balked at paying £8m, West Ham are set to proceed with a £7m bid next week. The Bluebirds have already turned down a £6m offer from Stoke for Ledley.

PABLO DANIEL OSVALDO

New Bologna signing Pablo Daniel Osvaldo has claimed he rejected the chance to move to West Ham United.

The 23-year-old former Fiorentina striker was hevaily linked with a move to London earlier this week following the departure of Craig Bellamy but instead completed a move to Serie A strugglers Bologna yesterday.

And in a statement confirming his switch Osvaldo claimed that he opted for a move to the Rossoblù over West Ham - despite having been offered the chance to move to England.

My options were West Ham or Bologna," he told the Italian club's website. “Both were interesting, but I chose Bologna.

“I know that the club and the fans expect a lot from me. I want to show my worth and score a lot to lend the team a hand. Bologna is a great opportunity for me.”

Gianfranco Zola had been tracking the former Italian under-21 star for some time, but Osvaldo becomes the second transfer window target the Hammers have missed out on following Giampaolo Pazzini's move from Fiorentina to Sampdoria last week. (KUMB)