Cheikhou Kouyate Injury: Updates on West Ham Midfielder's Head and Return
Feb 9, 2016
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham United holds off Jordon Ibe of Liverpool during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between West Ham United and Liverpool at Boleyn Ground on February 9, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will likely be assessed by doctors after he had to leave Tuesday night's FA Cup game against Liverpool following a clash of heads with Jon Flanagan.
Continue for updates.
Kouyate Suffers Possible Concussion Against Reds
Tuesday, Feb. 9
The club's official Twitter account confirmed the Senegal international's exit approaching the full-time whistle, and the club will want to make sure their playmaker doesn't have a concussion before he features again, with ESPN's Taylor Twellman noting how the Fox Sports 1 commentators were "spot-on regarding the 'suspected concussion.'"
Kouyate came off with the scores tied at 1-1 in the fourth-round fixture, and the 26-year-old could well be doubtful for Saturday's trip to Norwich City as a result of his head-to-head collision with Flanagan.
Emmanuel Emenike to West Ham: Latest Loan Transfer Details, Reaction and More
Feb 1, 2016
Fenerbahce's Emmanuel Emenike (L) runs with the ball during Turkish Spor Toto Super League football match between Fenerbahce and Genclerbirligi at 19 May Stadium in Ankara, on March 15, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)
West Ham United have captured Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike on loan from Fenerbahce until the end of the season.
The club confirmed the deal via their official Twitter account on Sunday night:
Emenike was previously on loan at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored seven times in 11 appearances.
The 28-year-old scored nine goals for Nigeria in 37 outings—four of which came in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as he fired the Super Eagles to their third success in the competition—before retiring from international football in 2015.
Overall, Emenike isn't an especially prolific goalscorer at club level—his record of 78 goals in 179 appearances is reasonable, but almost half of those came either in the Turkish second tier or the UAE. For Fenerbahce, he has racked up just 17 goals in 66 showings, including just five in the entirety of last season.
Still, as a loan signing, the forward represents a relatively low risk for the Hammers, and he can bring more to the side than just the occasional goal. According to Goal's Ed Dove, Emenike "possesses work rate, physicality and desire to battle with defenders."
He should also be able to create opportunities for his team-mates. He recorded eight assists for Fenerbahce in all competitions last year, and according to Squawka, he created 41 chances in 27 Super Lig appearances for them.
Indeed, he should make a useful option alongside Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. His arrival could also see the curtain come down early on Nikica Jelavic's Hammers career, with the 30-year-old struggling to impress since his arrival in the summer.
As for Emenike himself, playing in the Premier League offers him the chance to arrest the decline his career has taken following his performance in the Cup of Nations.
Sam Byram to West Ham United: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More
Jan 20, 2016
LEEDS, ENGLAND - AUGUST 1: Sam Byram of Leeds United in action during the Pre Season Friendly match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 1, 2015 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Clint Hughes/Getty Images)
The club's official website confirmed the details of the capture on Wednesday, with Byram signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with his new club.
West Ham posted the following image on their Twitter feed of Byram with the iconic claret and blue jersey, along with a few words from their new signing:
Paul Joyce of the Express claimed on Thursday that Everton had agreed a transfer for the player with Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino, after Byram informed the Yorkshire club he would not put pen to paper on a new contract at Elland Road. But West Ham swooped in late to secure the 22-year-old.
Byram has been a regular starter for Leeds since 2012, and he has featured in the England under-20 squad previously.
Former Leeds manager Brian McDermott recently sang the praises for the defender, saying he was impressed by the young man in his first game in charge, as quoted by Sky Sports' Adam Bate and Charlotte Marsh:
The first game after I was appointed was against Sheffield Wednesday and he was playing.
I hadn't seen him play live before and after about 20 minutes the ball came out of the sky, he chested it down and played this terrific ball out wide. I turned around to Neil Redfearn and asked, 'Who's that?!'
Byram will give the Hammersvital cover and offer strong competition to the current starting XI. He is a player who needs a step up to advance his career, and a move to the Premier League will undoubtedly advance his reputation.
Diafra Sakho Crashes Lamborghini Reportedly into Woman's House and Mini Cooper
Jan 19, 2016
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Diafra Sakho of West Ham United in action during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United at the Boleyn Ground on September 14, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho has reportedly written off his £200,000 Lamborghini after crashing it into a house wall and a Mini Cooper on Monday evening.
According to James Dutton of the MailOnline, the incident occurred in Hornchurch, Essex, earlier in the week, causing “substantial damage” to the other vehicle in the process. Dutton notes that Sakho posted a message on Snapchat saying, “Sorry for the scare guys, i’m ok, thank God.”
He also posted the following on his Twitter profile, insisting he was fine after the smash:
Thank you for the messages. Was involved in a small car accident this evening. Thankfully no one was hurt.
Dutton wrote that the Mini Cooper, which is said to be valued at around £13,995, belonged to Sophie Engstrom, who posted on her social media page (h/t the Sun): “Great night when Sakho drives into your house & car.” Pictures of the crash can reportedly be seen here, courtesy of dario:
Sakho has not been in action on the pitch since November due to a thigh injury. West Ham have been performing to a high standard without the forward, but they miss his rounded qualities at the point of the attack; he’s scored three Premier League goals in 12 appearances so far this term.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Diafra Sakho of West Ham United holds his leg with an injury during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at the Boleyn Ground on November 29, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by
Off the field, Sakho has had a few months to forget. As noted by Dutton, he was arrested in August on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and malicious communication towards his girlfriend.
Having been bailed, he was arrested again after new allegations of threatening to kill and witness intimidation. The striker has since been cleared after denying all wrongdoing.
Slaven Bilic Likens West Ham's Champions League Chances to Approaching Women
Jan 15, 2016
West Ham’s team manager Slaven Bilic celebrates after his team won the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Southampton at Boleyn Ground stadium in London, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Slaven Bilic-led West Ham have been one of the pleasant surprises of the Premier League this season.
The East London side have managed to take down a few of the bigger sides in the league and currently are in fifth place, just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham for a coveted, and seemingly unlikely, Champions League position.
Bilic was asked about about his confidence in securing a spot in Europe's most prestigious competition and described it as akin to approaching women at the bar.
Andy Carroll Injury: Updates on West Ham Striker's Status and Return
Jan 12, 2016
Liverpool's Zaire-born Belgian striker Christian Benteke (R) vies with West Ham United's Welsh defender James Collins and West Ham United's English striker Andy Carroll (C) during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Liverpool at The Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, East London on January 2, 2016. West Ham won the game 2-0. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Andy Carroll suffered yet another injury and was withdrawn from West Ham United's Jan. 12 match against Bournemouth with a hamstring problem. He is now ready for competitive action.
The English striker made a substitute's return during the 1-0 loss to Ronald Koeman's Saints.
Carroll Timeline Emerges
Wednesday, Jan. 13
"Sources have told ESPN FC that initial scans have shown injury-plagued Carroll has suffered a slight tear to his hamstring which is set to keep him out of action for eight weeks," reported Peter O'Rourke of ESPN FC.
Bilic Confirms Carroll Hamstring Problem
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Manager Slaven Bilic confirmed Carroll suffered a hamstring injury, as noted during an interview with West Ham TV (h/t the club's official Twitter).
Carroll was forced off just after the 10-minute mark against the Cherries.
Valencia's Time to Shine Amid Carroll Absence
Enner Valencia netted twice in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth, per BBC Sport's Aimee Lewis. His pace and movement gives the Hammers a different kind of threat up top during any time Carroll is absent.
It's yet another blow for Carroll, who cannot seem to stay fit for the east London club.
When he's played, the burly target man's form has been quite decent this season. He's scored three Premier League goals, according to WhoScored.com. He provides a unique option for Bilic's team, who are searching for a UEFA Europa League place.
Rio Ferdinand to Return to Upton Park for Mark Noble's West Ham Testimonial
Jan 4, 2016
Just been asked to play in @noble16mark testimonial, to play at Upton Park for the last time ever, such a special place,special fans #MN16
"Such a special place, special fans," Ferdinand wrote on Twitter on Monday after announcing he had been invited to play in the match between the current West Ham first team and a West Ham All-Stars squad on March 28.
Ferdinand, a product of the West Ham youth system, made 158 appearances for the club before joining Leeds United in 2000.
The match will likely represent his last chance to play at the ground, with the Hammers set to move out of their home of 112 years and into the Olympic Stadium in the summer.
Dejan Lovren got a surprise welcome to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday when he was left hanging by a cheeky West Ham mascot.
The Liverpool defender went to shake the young fan's outstretched hand in the tunnel ahead of the Premier League clash, only to be left hanging when the youngster pulled his hand away.
Lovren appeared to take the prank in good nature, however, laughing along with the cheeky mascot.
Triple H Praises West Ham Support and Says Andy Carroll Could Be Future WWE Star
Dec 16, 2015
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Andy Carroll of West Ham celebrates scoring their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at Boleyn Ground on December 7, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
WWE legend Triple H has expressed his admiration for West Ham United supporters and compared them to the famously enthusiastic fans of the company he represents.
"West Ham is probably the closest to what we do - the passion of their fanbase and their loyalty," he told ITV News.
And when asked which Hammers player he thinks could make a career in WWE, there was an obvious choice:
"Maybe a player like Andy Carroll. He is tall, likes to play it tough with the opposition and has the right looks with the long hair. He could be interesting."
Manuel Lanzini Injury: Updates on West Ham Star's Thigh and Return
Dec 8, 2015
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: James McClean of West Bromwich Albion and Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at Boleyn Ground on November 29, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini returned from a thigh injury on Jan. 2, but his comeback lasted 39 minutes after he aggravated the same problem. However, he could return before the end of the month.
Continue for updates.
Bilic Outlines Lanzini Timeline
Friday, Jan. 8
"Lanzini suffered the same injury as before, hopefully it will only be a few weeks," said Hammers boss Slaven Bilic on Thursday, per talkSPORT. "We all want him back as soon as possible, he orchestrated the game against Liverpool. It looks like two or three weeks."
Lanzini Suffers New Setback vs. Liverpool
Saturday, Jan. 2
West Ham confirmed Lanzini's withdrawal from the game against Liverpool as he limped off holding the same thigh that had kept him sidelined since early December.
Hammers Attack in Need of Lanzini Imagination
The Argentinian has excelled so far this season, netting four Premier League goals and providing one assist, per WhoScored.com.
Lanzini, 22, is on a season-long loan deal at Upton Park from the United Arab Emirates-based Al Jazira Club, and he's been so impressive that West Ham are looking to sign him up permanently, per Sam Long of the Evening Standard.
Blessed with flair and vision, the youngster brings a little magic to Bilic's side, who only scored three goals in their five matches during Lanzini's initial absence.
