Transfer Rumours

West Ham have again been linked with ex-Hammer Glen Johnson. Glen Johnson is amongst a handful of frustrated Chelsea players that Mourinho has given permission to leave. Wigan and West Ham United are rumoured to be chasing St Etienne defender Fousseni Diawarra. In the opposite direction, Norwich are reportedly keen to sign West Ham's Clive Clarke.

Newcastle are today reported to be after ex-West Ham forward Defoe. This seems to be more realistic than their reported bid for Ashton. Defoe has been spent much of the season on the bench this season and with Tottenham's signing of Berbatov this week and Defoe missing out on the world cup it seems that a move would be welcomed by both club and player.

West Ham Season Highlights

Magpies Attempt to Steal Ashton

Reports today suggest that Newcastle will offer West Ham £12 million for Dean Ashton. Apparently Ashton is seen as the natural successor to Alan Shearer. It is highly unlikely however that West Ham would even consider such a low offer, especially as 15% would immediately go to the Canaries, because of a sell on clause in the player's contract.

The other question is whether Ashton himself would want to leave a club playing in Europe for one that will be battling against relegation.

Rodolph Douala

A number of sites today report that West Ham are keen to sign Cameroon striker Rodolph Douala from Sporting Lisbon this summer.

Douala has said that the club is now willing to let him leave at the right price. In the past they have turned down two bids from Boro but reports in Portugal now claim it is West Ham who are most interested in the player

Katan to Leave, Scaloni to Stay

Yaniv Katan may have played his last game for West Ham. The striker, visiting Israel, told the local press that Alan Pardew, had told him he was not in the club's plans for next season.

"I am a West Ham player at the moment, and I have a contract with the club for another three seasons, but the manager has told me that I do not figure in his plans. So unless something changes and I am told that I can fight for a place on the team, I am finished with West Ham," Katan said.

"At the moment, things aren't clear, and I need a few days to think things over before making a decision. Without a doubt, my first choice is to return to Maccabi Haifa, the club where I grew up and the club that I love," added Katan, who left Haifa for the English Premier League side in January.

Lionel Scaloni on the other hand has said he is confident he will secure a permanent deal with West Ham. According to The Mirror reports in Spain suggest West Ham will offer Scaloni a two-year deal. He said, "I'd like to stay. The final decision will depend on Deportivo."

Transfer Rumours

Both West Ham and Tottenham are said to be after Swedish international Kim Kallstrom. The midfielder currently plays for French side Rennes but is apparently keen on a move to the Premiership.

The Reds are said to have been so impressed by Yossi Benayoun in the cup final that they are prepared to make a large bid for the Israeli. Meanwhile Yossi has been talking of the Hammer's need to strengthen their squad for next year's European campaign. So it seems Yossi plans to stay.

West Ham Plan For The Future

West Ham commercial director, Scott Duxbury outlined the club's plans on Saturday. The good news is that the club wants success and it seems that they are prepared to invest to achieve that.

"We've clearly got to invest in the playing squad and keep pushing the Club forward, but there is no reason why we can't move on from here and enjoy regular UEFA Cup football, and have a long-term target - if not medium-term - of playing in the Champions League.

"I don't think anyone should be ridiculed for aiming to reach the top and, in my opinion, that is where this Club is heading. Everything about this Club is geared towards success. People talk about how quickly we have gained success this season and, yes, it is fairly unusual for it to happen so quickly, but our position shouldn't be an unusual situation for a Club like West Ham United.

"We should be in the top 10 of the Premiership, we should be in FA Cup finals, and we should be playing European football. Going forward, they should be regular targets for us and we are committed to providing the supporters with more of the wonderful occasions they will experience at the Millennium Stadium today."

We have a young, ambitious manager and team. The performance on Saturday proved that on our day we are as good as anyone in the Premiership. So as long as West Ham can strengthen the squad in a few areas next season should be even more successful.

Ashton vs. Gerrard

Before the game Alan Pardew had argued that if you put Steven Gerrard in the West Ham side then the Hammers would be the favourites. Pardew as usual was proved right. Most of the Sunday papers report that West Ham were the better side, even ex-Red Alan Hansen claims that "West Ham were the better side and should have won." It was only an outstanding performance from Gerrard that saved Liverpool, and in the end his two stunning goals snatched the man of the match award from Dean Ashton.

Before this game I still had doubts about Ashton, particularly his lack of pace, and thought that West Ham should have started with Bobby Zamora. However Ashton yesterday showed what an awesome player he is, and the watching England manager must have realised the mistake he has made in not including the player in his world cup squad.

Pardew started the game with Harewood up front and Ashton playing a little deeper. This was an outstanding tactical decision, Ashton not only proved effective in disrupting the Red's passing game by playing Alonso out of the game, but established Ashton as West Ham's own playmaker. The forward was instrumental in West Ham's opening goals. His superb pass to Scaloni led to the first goal and his header to Etherington proved decisive in his own goal. His marking of Alonso effectively led to the Liverpool player being substituted early in the second half.

If Ashton can remain fit then the future looks rosy for the Hammers. His skill on the ball seems particularly suited to the European game and should ensure West Ham have a decent run in the EUFA cup next season. And who knows he may even make possible West Ham director Scott Duxbury's stated ambition that West Ham challenge for the Champion's League.

FA Cup Highlights