West Ham Step Up Ross McCormack Bid

West Ham are poised to make an improved £5million offer for Leeds United striker Ross McCormack.Leeds rejected a £3.5m offer from Upton Park on Friday.Scotland international McCormack is the Championship's leading scorer this season with 17 goals, one more than Jordan Rhodes of Blackburn. The 27-year-old was also made Leeds captain just last week.Leeds chairman Salah Nouruddin said on Twitter last week: 'I'd like to reassure all lufc fans that we're working hard for the club and can confirm we've rejected an offer from West Ham for Ross'.West Ham signed another striker on Saturday, taking Marco Borriello on loan from Roma for the rest of the season, and they have until Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline to make a better offer for McCormack.

West Ham Bid for Ross McCormack

West Ham United have made a bid for Leeds United captain Ross McCormack, Sky Sports are reporting. The Scotland international is the top scorer in the Championship with 18 goals to his name already. McCormack signed a new long-term deal last summer, when Leeds fended off multiple bids from rivals Middlesbrough for the the 27-year-old. Now Sam Allardyce's Hammers, who are desperate to bolster their squad as they battle to avoid relegation, have launched a move to try and lure McCormack to Upton Park. McCormack has just been made captain at Elland Road by manager Brian McDermott, who will not want to lose his star striker. But West Ham are confident that they can prise McCormack away as they look to complete at least three deals before the transfer window closes next Friday.

Leeds United 1-1 West Ham United-Match Report

Elland Road welcomed its biggest league crowd of the season for the visit of promotion chasing West Ham for a clash which United manager Neil Warnock had been expressing his excitement all week.The atmosphere was electric when the game kicked off - over 3,000 visiting fans played their part - and United started the game brightly winning a couple of early corners.It was Tom Lees who had the first strike on goal when he had a shot deflected while Robert Snodgrass's attempts to weave his way towards goal were ended by a good block by Abdoulaye Faye.Andy Lonergan was first called into action around the 20-minute mark when he had to come off his line to avert the danger as Nicky Maynard looked to latch on to a pass forward.
United started the better of the two sides, but by the half-hour point, it was shaping up to be a fairly even contest between two sides who were both looking to play.United had another opportunity when Matt Taylor was penalised for a handball on the edge of the box and Robert Snodgrass powered a free-kick just wide.
Five minutes before half-time, the Hammers failed to deal with a Snodgrass knock-down and Adam Clayton slid and stabbed a shot just wide of the mark.And right on the stroke of half-time, Snodgrass had a goal disallowed - for a suggested foul by Luciano Becchio - when he showed real quality to turn home a flicked-on throw-in.

Leeds made a strong start to the second half with Aidy White sending an early shot across the face of goal.
It was proving to be an entertaining contest with both sides looking to attack, and as the game ticked past the hour mark, United were holding marginally the upper hand in the contest.The Hammers did enjoy a couple of little spells of pressure, but there was nothing to choose between the twices at the halfway point of the second half.United were defending well when asked and, with Snodgrass looking lively again, attacked with purpose against a strong visiting defensive outfit.Leeds came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock on the hour when Robert Green clawed away a Paul Connolly header, following a Ross McCormack free-kick.
With 14 minutes left the clock, Warnock made a double change, introducing Mikael Forssell and Danny Webber to the fray.But it was Becchio who put United ahead with less than 10 minutes remaining. A cross was clawed away by Green, Connolly headed it against the bar, and Becchio was on hand to head home the rebound.The lead lasted barely a few minutes before Danny Collins headed home a corner kick to level the scores.Four minutes of added time gave United hope that the lead could be regained and Webber fired wide after one Leeds attack, but there was noi to be decisive goal as honours ended even.

Leeds Reject £2.5m West Ham United bid for Gradel

Leeds United have rejected a £2.5million offer from West Ham United for Max Gradel.The Elland Road club turned down the bid earlier this week as the fight to sign their talented winger intensified.West Ham’s approach for Gradel came on Monday, proposing a fee of more than £2million which included several add-ons.Leeds have not commented on the offer but the club are understood to have rejected it swiftly, a response which they hope will dampen West Ham’s interest.United manager Simon Grayson intends to retain Gradel for the forthcoming Championship season but the 23-year-old has only 12 months remaining on his contract and is also on the radar of Premier League sides Fulham and Wigan Athletic.Gradel cost Leeds £200,000 from Leicester City in January of 2010 but his value rose dramatically during his first full season at Elland Road. The Ivory Coast international scored 18 goals last term and swept the board at United’s annual awards ceremony.

His contract with Leeds expires next June, however, and he looks increasingly unlikely to agree an extension to that deal. West Ham are looking to exploit Gradel’s contractual situation but Leeds refused to succumb to the bid which arrived from Upton Park this week.

West Ham are now considering whether to test Leeds’ resolve by increasing their offer to around the £3million mark, a figure which sources in London believe would tempt the Yorkshire side to negotiate a deal.

Gradel is presently on tour with the rest of United’s first-team players in Scotland and he featured in last night’s friendly against Falkirk.

Grayson stated last week that he expected Gradel and Robert Snodgrass – the target of a recent offer from Norwich City – to be part of his squad for the start of the season, saying: “I’m envisaging that both players will be here

West Ham Make Gradel Bid

Skysports.com are reporting that West Ham have made a bid for Leeds star Max Gradel.

The Ivory Coast international has just one year left on his Leeds contract and has attracted interest from a host of clubs this summer.

But relegated West Ham appear to be the first to have made a move for the 23-year-old forward, putting an offer in to their new Championship rivals.

Gradel has just enjoyed the best season of his career and was named player of the year at Leeds.

After helping the Elland Road outfit to promotion from League One in 2009/10 they narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs last term, with Gradel scoring 18 goals in 41 league games.

Gradel first came to England with Leicester in 2006 before joining Leeds in October 2009, initially on loan.

UPDATE WEST HAM BID FOR GRADEL REJECTED CLICK TO READ MORE

West Ham United in Gradel link

West Ham United are being strongly linked with Max Gradel as an increasing number of clubs monitor the winger’s contractual situation at Leeds United.Gradel is strongly rumoured to be on the radar of West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, a week after newly-promoted Premier League side Swansea City emerged as suitors for the Ivory Coast international.Speculation is once again surrounding Gradel, as it did in January when Newcastle United were credited with a close interest in him. A summer bid from the Tyneside club is understood to be unlikely but Gradel’s first full season at Elland Road has generated a growing number of admirers.Gradel scored 18 goals for United last term, earning him the club’s player of the year award, and Leeds manager Simon Grayson intends to keep him at Elland Road beyond the end of the August transfer deadline.But the 23-year-old’s contract runs out in June of 2012 and Leeds are not believed to have made Gradel an offer to extend his deal.Gradel has previously indicated his willingness to remain in West Yorkshire next season, saying: “The opportunity this club gave me changed my career. I owe a lot of thanks to Leeds and I want to stay. I mean that.”

Grayson agreed to the sale of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel last week, accepting a seven-figure bid from Leicester City, but he would be more reluctant to see Gradel depart before the Championship term begins.

Gradel in Demand

The list of clubs interested in Leeds United's player of the season Max Gradel appears to be growing by the hour.On Friday Talksport Radio reported new West Ham boss Sam Allardyce,who has already landed Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye this summer, has now turned his attention to Gradel, 23, after missing out on Jamaican international Ricardo Gardner.Saturday's Daily Mirror reported interest from Premiership newcomers Swansea City with Rodgers allegedly reported to be lining up a £1.5m bid for Gradel.Fulham have also asked to be kept informed of developments by Leeds - who do not want to sell, but recognise that they may lose out on a saleable asset in a year's time if Gradel does not extend his current contract, which expires next summer.Paris St Germain,Newcastle,Aston Villa and Hamburg also thought to be in the running.

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