Post by gw on Nov 23, 2006 11:11:43 GMT -1
Eggert Magnusson wants to protect the English core at West Ham, prompting talk of a £13million bid for Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The 59-year-old Icelander is set to become chairman after the Hammers accepted the £85million offer of his consortium, which also includes provision for absorbing a £22.5million debt.
Magnusson admits he has long been an "admirer" of what West Ham have achieved and the traditions of the east London side.
And boss Alan Pardew is believed to have earmarked a big-money move for Chelsea outcast Wright-Phillips when the January transfer window opens.
Magnusson appears keen to add to the English core at West Ham, with the likes of Matt Etherington, Nigel Reo-Coker, Dean Ashton and Anton Ferdinand close to breaking into the senior England set-up, where former Hammers stars Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick are firm fixtures in Steve McClaren's plans.
"As a young man I admired the club," he said. "Great players came from West Ham and formed a big part of the World Cup side in 1966, and the England side which played the friendly in Amsterdam against Holland - the midfield was from West Ham."
Magnusson told WHUTV: "You have been doing great things in developing young players - and I very much look forward to strengthening that so we can keep on getting English players at West Ham."
The 59-year-old is the serving president of the Icelandic Football Association, but will relinquish that position early next year.
Magnusson is considering the way forward over his role within Europe's governing body, UEFA, where he currently sits on the executive committee.
While the takeover will need a few weeks to be completed formally, the Icelander is already looking ahead to a bright future at Upton Park.
"I want every year to be competing for places in the Champions League, which I think is a very important step," he declared. "That is my ultimate ambition.
"It will not happen today or tomorrow or the day after. We will take it slowly and build on the foundations that are already here."
Magnusson has promised to back manager Alan Pardew in the transfer market.
However, the future of Argentina duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano - brought to West Ham by Iranian-born Kia Joorabchian who then led his own failed takeover attempt - remains uncertain.
The 59-year-old Icelander is set to become chairman after the Hammers accepted the £85million offer of his consortium, which also includes provision for absorbing a £22.5million debt.
Magnusson admits he has long been an "admirer" of what West Ham have achieved and the traditions of the east London side.
And boss Alan Pardew is believed to have earmarked a big-money move for Chelsea outcast Wright-Phillips when the January transfer window opens.
Magnusson appears keen to add to the English core at West Ham, with the likes of Matt Etherington, Nigel Reo-Coker, Dean Ashton and Anton Ferdinand close to breaking into the senior England set-up, where former Hammers stars Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick are firm fixtures in Steve McClaren's plans.
"As a young man I admired the club," he said. "Great players came from West Ham and formed a big part of the World Cup side in 1966, and the England side which played the friendly in Amsterdam against Holland - the midfield was from West Ham."
Magnusson told WHUTV: "You have been doing great things in developing young players - and I very much look forward to strengthening that so we can keep on getting English players at West Ham."
The 59-year-old is the serving president of the Icelandic Football Association, but will relinquish that position early next year.
Magnusson is considering the way forward over his role within Europe's governing body, UEFA, where he currently sits on the executive committee.
While the takeover will need a few weeks to be completed formally, the Icelander is already looking ahead to a bright future at Upton Park.
"I want every year to be competing for places in the Champions League, which I think is a very important step," he declared. "That is my ultimate ambition.
"It will not happen today or tomorrow or the day after. We will take it slowly and build on the foundations that are already here."
Magnusson has promised to back manager Alan Pardew in the transfer market.
However, the future of Argentina duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano - brought to West Ham by Iranian-born Kia Joorabchian who then led his own failed takeover attempt - remains uncertain.
, all the fellow relegation candinates are doing something that will vastly improve them...