‘Generous’ West Ham co-chairmen ready to fork out big time to cover injury crisis
WEST HAM co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan will be "very generous" and give boss Slaven Bilic cash for a big signing to help cover his early season injury crisis.
Speculation is rife that Bilic will turn to Manchester City's unsettled hitman Wilfried Bony but Bilic refused to confirm his interest, other than to say transfer options will be discussed on Monday.
Bilic has lost club record £20.5million signing Andre Ayew for at least four months with a thigh injury which requires surgery, while fellow striker Andy Carroll is out for four to six weeks with knee trouble.
Defender Aaron Cresswell will be missing for three months with a knee problem, new signing Sofiane Feghouli is out for several weeks with a hamstring injury while Diafra Sakho is still not match fit.
Manuel Lanzini is not expected back next week after recovering earlier than initially thought from a knee injury.
On top of all that last season’s star player Dimitri Payet has been unable to play regularly due to returning to pre-season later than his teammates after reaching the Euro 2016 final with France.
So the Hammers' board will turn to the cheque book as an emergency measure and Bilic said:
"Injuries? Transfers? We will try to get one in and the chairmen will be very generous if we can.
"Bony is a good player - but we will speak on Monday. If we get one it’s got to be a good one. But if not I have the squad that will fight for West Ham big time."
The Hammers beat Bournemouth 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a late header from Michail Antonio, taken off last Monday after conceding a penalty against Chelsea but pushed up front to replace Carroll who was injured in Romania where West Ham played Astra Giurgiu in a Europa League qualifier on Thursday.
Said Bilic: “The lads were brilliant. We didn’t expect to play like Brazil but we created a few chances and from one of those moves we scored.
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“Antonio was taken off against Chelsea but he is a player who is full of energy and very versatile. He can play in a few positions and could be a really good as a striker as he creates space ands is good in the air.
“He’s good in the challenge with any full back and, of his seven goals last season, six were headers- so he’s a quality player.
“This was a big win. I was gutted after the defeat at Chelsea, their last minute Costa goal. I didn’t want to be on zero points even after one game.
“This was our first Premier League game here and had we not won people would start to ask. But we got three points and a clean sheet. Great team spirit and great team effort.”
Disappointed Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe was annoyed with midfielder Harry Arter for being sent off after picking up two yellow cards.
The first one was for dissent and Howe said: "It was a tight game and there was nothing in it. I thought we were better team and that it was our game for the taking...but for one lapse of discipline.
"We've all been told about new rules on dissent and know there will be yellow cards.
"Even so, we had the best opportunities and didn't give up, even with 10 men,
"We looked safe and then for the last period our backs were to the wall and we didn't defend well or stop the cross.
“It won't be difficult to pick ourselves up. We lost the first two games last season and know the harsh nature of the division. We have to grow quickly because we know the games don't get any easier.”