West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Tevez targets Hammers future

06 Sep 2006 - 12:14:39

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Argentina striker Carlos Tevez insists his priority for this season is to succeed at West Ham rather than to impress rival managers.

Tevez and his international team-mate Javier Mascherano joined the Hammers from Brazilian club Corinthians on four-year contracts in a shock deadline day deal.

Press reports subsequently suggested the pair had only joined West Ham to put themselves in the shop window for a move to a more prestigious club next summer.

However, Tevez insisted: "If I did have a good season I would obviously want to look to extend my stay as any player at Chelsea or Arsenal would like to do.

"If an offer from another club came in I would have to look at that, but first and foremost my priority will be to look to extend my stay at West Ham."

Mascherano backed Tevez's stance and insisted he was excited about the prospect of helping West Ham build a successful team for the long term.

"There were other offers in the pipeline that didn't come to fruition. The best things that came out of it was we found out how loved we were by West Ham and how wanted we were," said the midfielder.

"As a footballer you have to look at how much a team wants you to be there and make a decision. That is what we did.

"Coming from South America or from Argentina it was a boyhood dream to play in England. The future plans of West Ham, and the fact they made us a firm offer, is very encouraging.

"We have signed permanent contracts and the rest of the details will be sorted out by the people who do those things.

"What I do know is, as Carlos said, we would look to extend our stay. We are not looking to use West Ham in any means as a vehicle to get to another side."