Benni McCarthy

The weight loss regime will continue for five weeks as the Premier League club have finally lost patience with the South African striker, who has struggled for fitness since he moved to Upton Park.

Club chairman David Sullivan told Telegraph Sport: "Benni has a rigorous weight loss programme and if he doesn't lose the weight we will be fining him. We are not being unrealistic. We've given him a target of losing a kilo – 2.2lb – a week. He has to lose five or six more kilos.

"He's training very hard so he must be eating or drinking something very wrong. Short of spending 24 hours a day with him, we have to assume that.

"With the amount of training he is doing his weight should be going down with a normal diet. We are not starving him. It's just don't eat ice cream, don't eat cakes, don't drink wine. Who knows when they go home what they do.

"They say he's lost five kilos but he still looks heavy to me. But we are very optimistic. I can fine him. I can't be unrealistic and say half a stone a week but a kilo a week is a realistic target for a man of his size.

"It's like a jockey turning up overweight. He can't ride a horse can he, and no one is going to pay him? I think we are fully within our rights to say 'you are not honouring your side of the contract'. You expect him to turn up in a state to be a footballer."

McCarthy, 32, is the club's fourth-highest earner and has two years left on his contract having arrived from Blackburn Rovers in January for £2.2 million. His weight problems meant he was left out of South Africa's World Cup squad. It remains to be seen whether he survives the overhaul of the squad Sullivan and new manager Avram Grant are carrying out this summer.

"In a perfect world I would love to have been able to throw every player out, get all the money that was paid for their transfers in a pot and start again," Sullivan said. "I look at some of the money the club has paid for some players and it does not make sense."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/7941574/West-Ham-to-fine-Benni-McCarthy-if-striker-does-not-lose-weight.html

Felipe Caicedo

According to several newspapers, the 21-year-old Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo is heading to West Ham on a season-long loan, having fallen out of favour under Roberto Mancini. Caicedo, an Ecuadorian, signed when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge in 2008. I am surprised that Grant seems to think that he needs another striker. I hope that this does not mean he plans to sell Carlton Cole, who in my opinion is just coming to his prime.

Scott Parker

Scott Parker is close to signing an improved deal at West Ham so ending speculation that he could move away from Upton Park. David Sullivan told the Evening Standard: "I have promised the fans I will not let Scott Parker go and I will not waver from that. If Scott came to me, said he wanted to move and was prepared to put in a transfer request, I would say, 'I'm terribly sorry, Scott, but I've made a promise to the fans'. I would remind him that it is too late to find a replacement now and ask him for one more year's commitment."

Parker is expected to sign a new five-year deal within the next week. The club will offer the 29-year-old improved terms that will reportedly be worth up to £20m.

Miralem Sulejmani

West Ham United have been forced to abandon their bid for Ajax's Miralem Sulejmani after he failed to secure a work permit. The Hammers had agreed a deal with the Dutch club to sign Sulejmani, who is Ajax's record signing after they paid Heerenveen more than £13million for his services just two years ago.

However, Sulejmani - a Serbian international - has just eight caps to his name and they have been spread over two years, meaning he did not automatically qualify for a work permit under Premier League criteria.

West Ham appealed the decision, but an independent football panel ruled against Avram Grant's side, who had been hoping to include Sulejmani in their squad ahead of their opening game at Aston Villa this weekend.

Thomas Hitzlsperger

Thomas Hitzlsperger has picked up a thigh injury, and is now doubtful for his team's season opener. The 28-year-old was injured during Germany's 2-2 draw with Denmark yesterday, and had to be withdrawn after 66 minutes. "I hope it is not that bad because I really want to play at the start of the season," he told reporters. He will undergo medical tests later today, but remains in a fitness race ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Carlton Cole

After all the rumours it seems that Carlton Cole will stay at West Ham. Avram Grant is adamant that Cole will not be sold. Yesterday he said: "The new 4-3-3 system has helped him. We also have a team that knows how to play football, so they can pass to him at the right time."

Freddie Sears

Freddie Sears scored four goals in a game for the reserves last week. Will it be his season this year?

Carlon Cole is also in good form with three goals in four games. I fully expect him to be selected in England's game against Hungary. I think he could create a great partnership with Rooney. Like Heskey he is an unselfish striker which will make things easy for Rooney. Unlike Heskey he also scores goals.