The Mail reckons Everton have rejected the Hammers opening bid of £5million and told the Londoners they will have to double it if they are to prise the Nigerian away from Goodison. While Goal.com (as keenly spotted by SCPhillyfan and put up in fanposts, cheers for that) reckon a deal has already been agreed.
Now, I love the Yak, when he is scoring goals he is by far the happiest and smiley-est (is that a word?) player to pull on the shirt and he is a finisher of the highest order.
But sadly I think the achilles injury he suffered back in November 2008 has permanently hindered his play. This year he has looked immobile and sluggish, two things he wasn't when he bagged 21 goals in his first season at the club.
It is more than likely Moyes will have to sell before he can buy again this summer and as much as I hate to admit it, a fee of £7million would be a good deal for a player past his best.
The money could be put towards Mareille's Hatem Ben Arfa, though a completely quote-less article linking us with the 23-year-old in the Sun suggests that one could have been fabricated in the newsroom. I hope the stories linking us with Craig Bellamy are just as baseless.
On another note thanks for all your comments regarding the Pienaar/Donovan conundrum. The general feeling seems to be that while the American is a good player, he is better playing alongside Pienaar rather than his direct replacement. This is, of course, everyones preferred option, but with the impasse over Pienaar's contract rumbling on, that outcome seems as far away as ever,