Joined
·
11,868 Posts
Craig Bellamy is poised to join his eighth career club as he undergoes a medical at Manchester City.
The Welsh striker was left out of West Ham's squad for Sunday's 3-1 win over Fulham, having told club officials on Friday that he wanted to leave.
West Ham agreed a deal with City on Sunday, and Bellamy, 29, arrived in Manchester on Monday to discuss terms.
The fee is thought to be £14m, while Spurs' interest has ended after West Ham refused to do business with them.
Tottenham were Bellamy's first choice of club, but the Hammers are reluctant to sell to their London rivals and always preferred the option of selling to City.
The Wales international flew to Manchester earlier on Monday, where he met City's chief operating officer, Paul Aldridge, to thrash out the details of his move.
The development appears to have ended one of the hottest transfer stories of the January transfer window so far, despite the Hammers' desire to keep hold of a player who has four goals in his last four league games, helping the Londoners up to eighth in the table.
West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury revealed to BBC Sport that he had rejected six bids for Bellamy, thought to be from City and Tottenham, earlier in the month.
However, BBC Sport understands Bellamy, who had a transfer request turned down at the start of last week, walked out of training on Friday after telling the club he wanted to leave.
And it now looks certain the move, the eighth of Bellamy's career, will go ahead, reuniting the striker with former Wales manager and assistant Mark Hughes and Mark Bowen.
Bowen had told BBC Sport on Thursday: "Of course we're interested in Craig Bellamy, he is a player we very much admire and we are hopeful we can bring him to Manchester City.
"We've known Craig for many years, and had him at Blackburn Rovers, and we know what he brings to any team he plays for.
"It does make me smile as I think he is one of those players who you either love or hate. But fans of teams that he has played for love him and know what he gave for their team."
I will get the money to spend on other players. We are looking at targets
Gianfranco Zola
Bellamy, who joined West Ham for £7.5m last season, has previously had spells at Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Celtic, Blackburn and Liverpool - and has 16 goals in 54 appearances for Wales.
Meanwhile, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola says he will be able to use the money received for Bellamy to buy a replacement, despite the club's financial problems and suggestions owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is looking to sell.
"If he doesn't want to stay we can't do anything about it," said Zola. "The player has told me his wishes and I respect that, so I stand by him.
"He wants to have another experience and go to another club where he might think he will get something better. Sometimes it happens.
"I will get the money to spend on other players. We are looking at targets."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7825118.stm
The Welsh striker was left out of West Ham's squad for Sunday's 3-1 win over Fulham, having told club officials on Friday that he wanted to leave.
West Ham agreed a deal with City on Sunday, and Bellamy, 29, arrived in Manchester on Monday to discuss terms.
The fee is thought to be £14m, while Spurs' interest has ended after West Ham refused to do business with them.
Tottenham were Bellamy's first choice of club, but the Hammers are reluctant to sell to their London rivals and always preferred the option of selling to City.
The Wales international flew to Manchester earlier on Monday, where he met City's chief operating officer, Paul Aldridge, to thrash out the details of his move.
The development appears to have ended one of the hottest transfer stories of the January transfer window so far, despite the Hammers' desire to keep hold of a player who has four goals in his last four league games, helping the Londoners up to eighth in the table.
West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury revealed to BBC Sport that he had rejected six bids for Bellamy, thought to be from City and Tottenham, earlier in the month.
However, BBC Sport understands Bellamy, who had a transfer request turned down at the start of last week, walked out of training on Friday after telling the club he wanted to leave.
And it now looks certain the move, the eighth of Bellamy's career, will go ahead, reuniting the striker with former Wales manager and assistant Mark Hughes and Mark Bowen.
Bowen had told BBC Sport on Thursday: "Of course we're interested in Craig Bellamy, he is a player we very much admire and we are hopeful we can bring him to Manchester City.
"We've known Craig for many years, and had him at Blackburn Rovers, and we know what he brings to any team he plays for.
"It does make me smile as I think he is one of those players who you either love or hate. But fans of teams that he has played for love him and know what he gave for their team."
I will get the money to spend on other players. We are looking at targets
Gianfranco Zola
Bellamy, who joined West Ham for £7.5m last season, has previously had spells at Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Celtic, Blackburn and Liverpool - and has 16 goals in 54 appearances for Wales.
Meanwhile, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola says he will be able to use the money received for Bellamy to buy a replacement, despite the club's financial problems and suggestions owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is looking to sell.
"If he doesn't want to stay we can't do anything about it," said Zola. "The player has told me his wishes and I respect that, so I stand by him.
"He wants to have another experience and go to another club where he might think he will get something better. Sometimes it happens.
"I will get the money to spend on other players. We are looking at targets."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7825118.stm
