Hammers seal frediie deal

The 30-year-old has completed his move to Upton Park after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

West Ham have signed Ljungberg in a deal that could rise to £3million.

The move ends a nine-year spell at Arsenal for Ljungberg who joined the club from Halmstads in 1998.

The Swedish international struggled with injuries last season and Arsenal have decided to let him move on as he could not be guaranteed a regular spot in Arsene Wenger's side.

Ljungberg becomes West Ham's fifth new signing of the summer and he will help bolster Alan Curbishley's midfield options following the injury to Julien Faubert and the departure of Yossi Benayoun to Liverpool.

Ljungberg is relishing the challenge of playing for West Ham and he revealed the ambition of chairman Eggert Magnusson played a big part in his decision to move to Upton Park.
"I'm coming here because I want to build a great team," said Ljungberg. "And why I want to join is because of Magnusson. He wants to bring them forward to be top of the country.

"He's willing to go to the transfer market to buy top players and mix them with youth players. West Ham have a great academy.

"He wants to help take the club up and take them to the top in England. It's a big challenge for me."
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley was delighted to land Ljungberg and believes he will prove a valuable addition to his squad.

"We spoke to Freddie over the last week and we tried to sell him the club and what we're about," Curbishley said.

"He's seen players come in and push us forward.

"He brings a few things, Champions League experience, captain of Sweden, he's versatile.

"There's a hunger there. He wants to come and push West Ham on and be partly responsible for that.

"He's joining another terrific club and that's the way he's got to see it.

"He understands the passion of the club and the passion of the fans and I'm sure he'll be a big hit here."

Hammers confirm Freddie deal

The 30-year-old has completed his move to Upton Park after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

West Ham have signed Ljungberg in a deal that could rise to £3million.

The move ends a nine-year spell at Arsenal for Ljungberg who joined the club from Halmstads in 1998.

The Swedish international struggled with injuries last season and Arsenal have decided to let him move on as he could not be guaranteed a regular spot in Arsene Wenger's side.

Ljungberg becomes West Ham's fifth new signing of the summer and he will help bolster Alan Curbishley's midfield options following the injury to Julien Faubert and the departure of Yossi Benayoun to Liverpool.

Ljungberg is relishing the challenge of playing for West Ham and he revealed the ambition of chairman Eggert Magnusson played a big part in his decision to move to Upton Park.
"I'm coming here because I want to build a great team," said Ljungberg. "And why I want to join is because of Magnusson. He wants to bring them forward to be top of the country.

"He's willing to go to the transfer market to buy top players and mix them with youth players. West Ham have a great academy.

"He wants to help take the club up and take them to the top in England. It's a big challenge for me."
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley was delighted to land Ljungberg and believes he will prove a valuable addition to his squad.

"We spoke to Freddie over the last week and we tried to sell him the club and what we're about," Curbishley said.

"He's seen players come in and push us forward.

"He brings a few things, Champions League experience, captain of Sweden, he's versatile.

"There's a hunger there. He wants to come and push West Ham on and be partly responsible for that.

"He's joining another terrific club and that's the way he's got to see it.

"He understands the passion of the club and the passion of the fans and I'm sure he'll be a big hit here."

Baptista putting Real first

Julio Baptista wants a go at breaking into Bernd Schuster's Real Madrid team before considering his options.

Baptista is back with Liga champions after spending last season on loan with Arsenal.

The Brazilian forward has been linked with a move to Newcastle, but Baptista is keen to win a place in Schuster's side before looking further afield.

"I believe I showed at Arsenal last season that I can play in England score goals and make goals," he told the Sunday Mirror.

"Newcastle is a big club but before I consider a move I need to know about my future with Real.

"I want the chance in pre-season to show our new coach Bernd Schuster I should be part of his plans.

"If things don't work out here I will have to look at other options in Spain and England."

F1 Supremo To Launch Arsenal Bid

Following the news that American billionaire Stan Kroenke was to up his efforts in his bid to take over Arsenal, a new challenger has emerged, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone who has made his fortune from motor racing, is worth three times more than Kroenke, having a net worth of around £3billion.

Yesterday it emerged that Kroenke will hold further talks with the board at Arsenal, in an attempt to gain control of the club by means of a takeover. As yet, Kroenke hasn’t enough shares in the club to launch a formal bid, but would use depose vice-chairman David Dein’s portion of the club to get very close to the magical 30% needed.

But out of nowhere, Ecclestone’s interest has been noted. The 76-year-old is famed for his stealthy operating tactics, but even the Arsenal share-holders new nothing about the interest up until last night.

Speaking to Reuters, Ecclestone didn’t refute the speculation, but fuelled it: “I don't know too much about that, actually.”

“It's good if somebody is saying that, because maybe I will be approached and maybe it will be cheap.

“I'll buy anything if it's cheap enough.

“If somebody offers me something that I think is good value, I'll have a go.”

The comments will not endear him to the Arsenal board, who up until now have been against foreign takeover, partly because the passion of the club will be lost in the midst of business. Ecclestone is British, but clearly sees the Arsenal deal as a business opportunity.

It was widely understood that former vice-chairman of the club, David Dein, left his post as he looked more favourably on a foreign takeover, an opinion that the rest of the board did not agree with. Dein may yet come back into the club after a possible takeover, which could see manager Arsene Wenger extend his stay at the Emirates.

Ecclestone has been in touch with Dein, which suggests that they may have been talking shop: “I talked to David obviously when they chucked him out, which I thought was a bit unnecessary.”

F1 supremo open to Gunners bid

Bernie Ecclestone is open-minded about the possibility of a takeover bid for Arsenal.

Following reports claiming American billionaire Stan Kroenke is ready to launch his own attempt to gain control of The Gunners, Ecclestone has also been linked with an offer.

The Formula One supremo has confirmed he has not held talks with the Premier League club regarding any bid.

But Ecclestone conceded that he would be open to an approach from Emirates Stadium, if the deal represented good value.

"I don't know too much about that, actually," Ecclestone told Reuters in response to reports he is lining up a bid for Arsenal.

"It's good if somebody is saying that, because maybe I will be approached and maybe it will be cheap.

"I'll buy anything if it's cheap enough.

"If somebody offers me something that I think is good value, I'll have a go."

Ecclestone also feels the departure of former vice-chairman David Dein, who was keen for Kroenke to be more involved in the club, was 'unnecessary'.

He added: "I talked to David obviously when they chucked him out, which I thought was a bit unnecessary."

Arsenal starlet to join Osasuna

Arsenal youngster Carlos Vela has agreed to join Osasuna on loan next season.

The Mexican teenager is yet to play for The Gunners as the Under 20 international does not quality for a work permit.

He has already been out on loan at Celta Vigo and Salamanca, and was wanted this summer by Levante and Almeria.

But Vela's agent Eduardo Hernandez has revealed the forward has agreed to join Osasuna for a year, with the option of a second season.

"It is a fact, the player goes away to Osasuna," Hernandez told Marca.

"The negotiation has been closed for a loan for a year and with the possibility that it is extended to two, but an option to buy has not been contemplated.

"For Arsenal, it interests them that he plays regularly and he will do that in Osasuna.

"Vela is very happy, it is incredible what he has done. At 17 years, he played in the second division and at 18 in the first with Osasuna."

No replacements!!

Wenger not looking for Henry replacement

LONDON, July 20, 2007 (AFP) - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insisted Friday that he would not be looking to recruit a striker to replace Thierry Henry and had no intention of bidding for Bolton's French forward Nicolas Anelka.

"We've signed Eduardo (Da Silva). We're not going to collect strikers, we buy strikers that we need," said Wenger.

"This season we're expecting great progress from Nicklas Bendtner and that he will show us other sides of his talent."

Da Silva, the top scorer in the Croatian league with Dynamo Zagreb, has signed for four years with the Gunners, but it remains to be seen whether he can fill the gap left by Henry who has joined Barcelona.

Denmark's Bendtner played last season in the Championship after being loaned by Arsenal to Birmingham City where he scored 11 goals