Source: Telegraph
Craig Bellamy's West Ham career in doubt after walkout
The Wales captain did not stay for an optional training session and also rejected the offer of a new contract that would keep him at the club until 2013 when he will be 34. Bellamy has been the subject of several offers from Manchester City during the current transfer window, with Tottenham making a bid of 10 million (pounds) that could rise to 12 million (pounds).[LNB]That offer, however, has been rejected by West Ham, who would value the forward at more like 15 million (pounds). Bellamy still has 18 months left on his current contract and the club had thought he was committed to staying after they showed considerable patience following injury difficulties since his move from Liverpool in July 2007.[LNB]Bellamy, though, held a meeting with Duxbury at the club's training base yesterday and morning and made it clear that he would like to join Harry Redknapp at Tottenham. West Ham responded by saying that he does not have permission to speak to any other club and he appears unlikely to feature in tomorrow's London derby against Fulham.[LNB]While West Ham have remained true to their pledge not to cash in on their best players during this transfer window, the situation with Bellamy may force their hand and they can expect further bids from both Tottenham and Manchester City. West Ham have also turned down offers for Scott Parker from Manchester City.[LNB]Manager Gianfranco Zola also admitted that he had no idea whether Bellamy would be available. "What can I do about it? As far as I am concerned I want to keep him and the club want to keep him," he said. "If a player wants to go it is difficult. At the moment he is a West Ham player and he will stay a West Ham player. I don't know if he will play on Sunday.[LNB]"The club wants to keep the player and I want to keep him. It's difficult to keep players who are unhappy at the club but we'll see what happens."[LNB]Zola, though, admitted that West Ham were already considering replacements. "If Bellamy goes we will need to replace him and that's why we're looking," he said. "I respect Craig and I am disappointed he doesn't want to stay. He has done very well for me and I hope he stays and if he doesn't then I hope he does as well for someone else as he did for me.[LNB]"You need to have players who are committed to what you're doing. I've been told he's still our player and I'm confident he'll change his mind. [The] priority is to keep Bellamy. We have no commitments with anybody so that's most important.[LNB]"He is important for us but I am prepared to deal without him. I was hoping to have him until the end of the season. I think highly about him but it's his choice. He knows what he can get here but if he thinks he can't get what he wants here then that's up to him.[LNB]"He's a good player and gives us a lot on the pitch. I have no doubt that he is an important player as are many of the others. He's an important piece of a mosaic."[LNB]West Ham also released a statement on Thursday denying that they had an received an approach from Newcastle United for Lucas Neill, their captain.[LNB] [LNB]
