West Ham transfer news

FORMER WEST Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang made his return to football after missing 504 DAYS with lung problemsThe Equatorial Guinea international, 30, was left unable to train and play in August last year following a “bronchopulmonary outbreak of a viral nature”.
Obiang missed the whole of the 2021/22 season with lung problemsCredit: Rex
After 504 days, Obiang returned to action for SassuoloCredit: Rex
As a result, Obiang missed the entire 2021/22 season, which saw Sassuolo finish middle of the pack in 11th.
But in a promising turn of events, Obiang made his long-awaited return to action in their 5-0 Serie A win over Salernitana.
Obiang came off the bench in the 80th minute, replacing Davide Frattesi.
He said on Instagram: “And finally after 504 days we are officially back in Serie A.
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“Honestly, thank you very much to all of you who are always supporting me, to those who have helped me during the most difficult periods, my family obviously, @sassuolocalcio and team-mates who are the best that’s ever touched me.
“We continue the fight and hopefully it will be the beginning of my new football youth.”
Obiang’s return was labelled “the best news of Sassuolo”, and West Ham fans are just as chuffed for him.
One Hammer said on Twitter: “Good luck lovely man. Sending love from East London.”
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Another tweeted: “Things we love to see. Absolute sensational lad who loves the club.”
Obiang’s love for West Ham didn’t end following his 2019 departure for Sassuolo.
In fact, he very much remains a fan favourite in East London – especially after playing a part in Gianluca Scamacca’s £30.5million summer transfer.
Hammers boss Davide Moyes sought out a character report from Obiang on then Sassuolo team-mate Scamacca before making a move.
Moyes revealed in August: “We had great encouragement about him as well from our former player Pedro Obiang, who played with him at Sassuolo.
“He told us about his character and from what we’ve seen we’ve been really pleased although like all overseas players, they need time to settle in.”
Speaking to West Ham’s club media, Scamacca himself admitted: “I know Pedro Obiang because we played together in Sassuolo and he was here and he speaks very, very well about the West Ham.”
Obiang would’ve been pleased to see his pal star in West Ham’s 2-0 win over Wolves at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Scamacca scored a screamer from outside the box to register his first Premier League goal.
The Italy international, 23, also has three goals in the Europa Conference League.
West Ham captain Declan Rice knows there’s more to come from the forward, having seen him smash goals in during training.
Rice said after the game: “He has probably scored about 20 worldies since he’s been here, and I’ve just gone: ‘wow; he can hit a ball.’
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“When he gets the space, he can really deliver for us. So, I am buzzing that he scored. But his all-around contribution today, he really linked the game well, and he looks to be a real positive threat for us.
“Gianluca has got one of the best strikes of a ball I have ever seen. It’s crazy. When it went into the top corner there was no surprise at all.”  More

DAVID MOYES fumed at the “scandalous decision” to disallow Maxwel Cornet’s equaliser against Chelsea – and let the referee know it.The West Ham boss also accused keeper Edouard Mendy of “faking injury” which resulted in the goal being chalked off.
David Moyes confronts Referee Andy MadleyCredit: Getty
Moyes said: “You have seen it, it is a scandalous decision, absolutely rotten from one of the supposedly elite referees – it doesn’t say much about whoever sent him over from VAR as well – it is an unbelievable decision against us.
“We feel we got back to 2-2 and it was not down to anything we have done.
“I support a lot of the VAR stuff, I actually think the goalkeeper dives, he is faking an injury because he cannot get to the next one – he did the same on the first goal as well.
“The referee somehow gets that so wrong it is incredible.”
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West Ham opened the lead after Michail Antonio bundled in from close range following a corner.
But Chelsea turned it around thanks to supersubs Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz.
Although Havertz’s winner threatened to be cancelled out just moments later as Cornet hammered home.
But in the build up, Jarrod Bowen collided with Mendy before Cornet converted from the loose ball.
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VAR official Jarred Gillett advised Andy Madley to go over to the monitor and check the goal.
Replays appeared to show little contact between Bowen and Mendy but after the Senegalese stopper stayed down, the play was brought back.
Moyes was seen confronting Madley on the pitch and according to talkSPORT, the Scot carried on the row in the referee’s room.
Despite his outrage, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel insisted the right decision was made.
Tuchel argued: “It was a clear foul on the goalkeeper, I had doubts about the first one – but I will not comment, last time I got punished with huge fines.
“You give your opinion, you will not be fined. It was not easy to keep the belief, it is hard to attack fluid and create chances against West Ham, nobody plays an open, spectacular match against them.
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“We take it now step by step, we will try to use this momentum – things are clear now, we can demand full commitment to everything.
“We are in the middle of creating this and it is not finished.”
Edouard Mendy stayed down after West Ham scoredCredit: Reuters More