West Ham to make cut-price transfer bid for Stoke striker James Beattie
Published 23:00 09/12/09 By MirrorFootball
West Ham are weighing up a cut-price move for Stoke’s wantaway striker James Beattie in the New Year.
Beattie looks set to quit the Britannia Stadium in January after his dressing room row with boss Tony Pulis and is already eyeing up an escape route.
The 31-year-old has scored just twice so far this season and has failed to recapture the form which helped propel Stoke to a creditable 12th place finish last term.
But Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola is keen to land the former Southampton man after losing both Carlton Cole and Zavon Hines to injury.
Mexico striker Guillermo Franco is the only fit recognised forward at Upton Park with Cole out until the end of January and Hines facing an operation on his injured knee.
Beattie would provide perfect cover for Cole and would give the Hammers the target man they so badly need.
And Zola is now hoping he can take advantage of Beattie’s desperation to leave Stoke by offering the five-times capped England man a safe haven in east London.
Meanwhile, the Hammers are set to welcome back captain Matthew Upson for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Birmingham.
The England defender has missed the past two games with a hamstring strain but is now hoping to lead out the side at St Andrews this weekend.
