Source: Team_Talk
Ben Haim makes Hammers loan move
West Ham have signed Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim on loan until January and hope to follow the capture with that of a young World Cup star. Ben Haim, who has been reunited with former Pompey manager Avram Grant, is the Hammers' fourth summer signing.The 28-year-old joins German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, Mexican winger Pablo Barrera and French forward Frederic Piquionne in moving to Upton Park.West Ham have promised their summer spending is not over and hope to complete the signing of a "young international who represented their country to distinction at the World Cup" this week.Ben-Haim has played under Grant for Chelsea, Portsmouth and at international level with Israel, for whom he has won over 50 caps.The Hammers' announcement said: "West Ham United are delighted to announce the loan signing of Israel defender Tal Ben Haim and can confirm the club are close to securing another international player."Ben Haim is the fourth new face in Avram Grant's squad in what has been a busy summer of arrivals. He is an experienced centre-back with a strong character. He can play across the back four and will provide top-level competition for the club's existing defenders."With the ink barely dry on Ben Haim's contract, club officials stepped up their bid to secure a fifth signing this close-season and hope to have the deal finalised within the next 72 hours."The potential recruit is a young international, who represented his country to distinction at the 2010 FIFA World Cup."Ben Haim had been expected to make a permanent move to Upton Park but Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill hinted he could not agree terms.He said in The News before the transfer was confirmed: "I feel sorry for Tal. One minute he's here and the next he's not."I think he's on his way to West Ham and he will go there."There's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing going on with his terms, though."Cotterill also confirmed that goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and former Burnley defender Stephen Jordan have been offered contracts at Fratton Park following successful trial periods. "Jamie and Stephen have both been made offers now, so it's with them, really," said Cotterill.