West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola admits he has lost respect for Eidur
Gudjohnsen after the Iceland forward chose to snub the Hammers at
the 11th hour in favour of a switch to Tottenham.
After holding talks with Zola, Gudjohnsen is believed to have
agreed terms on a loan move to Upton Park and undergone a medical
before Spurs swooped late to secure his signature.
The normally placid Zola could not hide his disgust at the
actions of Gudjohnsen, who played alongside the Italian at Chelsea
between 2000 and 2003, and admitted he had been let down by the
player.
"I am disappointed with Spurs and disappointed with
Gudjohnsen. I was expecting good behaviour from him," Zola said.
"They keep telling me that football has got like this right
now and I keep saying that when I'm dealing with people, I always
expect for the people that I have got in front me to behave in a
certain way - with respect.
"Okay, that wasn't the case here. But we move on. We have a
lot of things to achieve here this season and we can still achieve
them anyway."
Zola has made the signing of at least one striker his
priority as the January transfer window draws to a close.
Gudjohnsen, who completed his move to Spurs on Friday, has
been scrubbed off Zola's wish-list but West Ham are very close to
confirming the acquisition of Benni McCarthy from Blackburn.
The South Africa international wants more game time ahead of
this summer's World Cup and Zola is willing to give it to him.
"The deal is not done yet but it's very close," the former
Italy forward added.
"He is a player who will fit in with our philosophy very
much. Hopefully it will be all right."
Since the takeover of the Hammers earlier this month by
former Birmingham owners David Sullivan and David Gold, a host of
strikers have been linked with moves to the east Londoners.
Manchester City's Benjani Mwaruwari, Scott McDonald of Celtic
and Egypt striker Mido are among the names to have cropped up but
Zola is remaining tight-lipped.
"Mido and others are names that are circulating but as far as
I'm concerned, Benni is the only one close to us," he added.
"He's the only one I want to talk about. I am sure the club
will be linked to many names but Benni is the real target for us."
Zola also confirmed forward Luis Jimenez is set to leave the
club and return to Italian football.
The Hammers are fifth from bottom in the table ahead of
Saturday's Premier League match at home to Blackburn but there is a
much better atmosphere around the club following the change in
ownership.
They have lost just one of their last five league games and a
win this weekend should give them some breathing space as the
relegation dogfight continues.
"This team is getting a kind of possessiveness and we are
getting stability on and off the pitch, which is good news," Zola
said.
"The owners have their own mentality, their own way of
working, but they are respecting my wishes.
"They are working close to me and that is the best way. We're
all working to make this club successful."
Carlton Cole came on for the final 17 minutes of West Ham's
1-1 draw at Portsmouth in midweek and the England striker could
start on Saturday.
Zola welcomes back Scott Parker, the midfielder and club
captain, as well as left-back Herita Ilunga from hamstring injuries
and they should also make the starting line-up.
