Source: Team_Talk
Grant tips Parker to pen new contract
West Ham manager Avram Grant is confident Scott Parker is happy at Upton Park and ready to sign a new contract despite interest from Tottenham.[LNB] Parker has been linked with several clubs, most notably Tottenham, over the summer but the closure of the transfer window is now just days away and Grant expects to hold onto his star player.[LNB]Parker scored the late goal which secured West Ham's first win of the season against Oxford in the Carling Cup last night and Grant is determined it will not be his last goal for the club.[LNB]"Scott Parker is very important," said the Israeli.[LNB]"He is a very good player who is always fighting and giving everything. He is clever.[LNB]"I am confident that I want him in the team. He is going to sign a new contract but normally I do not want to be involved in the money situation.[LNB]"As far as I know Scott is happy here. We want to develop young players but we need experienced players who are very positive. Scott is very important for us because he is one of the experienced players who have a good influence on the others."[LNB]Grant says he speaks to Harry Redknapp on an almost daily basis and is confident his Tottenham counterpart is not preparing a new bid for Parker.[LNB]"Harry didn't tell me anything and I spoke with him today and he is my friend and I am sure he would have told me," said Grant.[LNB]"We just spoke about wine and things."[LNB]Grant's priority before the transfer window closes is signing a right-back, but money is scarce at Upton Park.[LNB]Owners David Sullivan and David Gold have spent £8million on five new players this summer and one of their prized assets may have to move to free up cash for Grant.[LNB]With the club wanting to keep Parker, attention has turned on to striker Carlton Cole, who came on as a substitute against Oxford and missed a penalty in last weekend's defeat against Bolton.[LNB]There has been interest from Stoke and Sunderland but clubs are reluctant to match West Ham's £15million valuation.[LNB]Grant said: "We need more players. We have a long-term programme and part of it is to try to change players and bring in others. We are searching through hundreds of offers but we have to find the right one. We have financial problems and have to return the debts we have. We all know that we have a long way to go until we put our club in the position that we want."[LNB]The next tests could not be more daunting, with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday and Chelsea at home in the Premier League the following week.[LNB]Grant, though, insists his team will not be intimidated.[LNB]He said: "Manchester United are a very good team and it will be a good challenge for us. I want to see the team try to play football and keep fighting. It will not be easy at Old Trafford but it will not be easy for them either."
