There’s two sides to every story and, while Roy Keane talks about his latest signing stepping up to the next level at Sunderland, those at West Ham claim that the defender’s extortionate wage demands were to blame for the player leaving.
The Independent reports that the east London club were keen to keep Anton Ferdinand, but weren’t prepared to stump up more than £50,000 a week to retain his services. The centre half has been in and out of the team in recent seasons, with injuries ensuring he has spent a fair bit of time on the sidelines. It hasn’t stopped the Black Cats forking out £7 million for the player, although were West Ham right to stand their ground?
West Ham United came out fighting yesterday by accusing Anton Ferdinand of forcing his £7m sale to Sunderland by demanding more than £50,000 a week in wages. The deal was due to be completed last night after the central defender underwent a medical and agreed personal terms,
Contract talks at Upton Park with the 23-year-old defender broke down irretrievably earlier this month, with sources at West Ham citing his excessive wage demands – more than double his present deal – as the primary reason for the collapse.
It was pointed out to Ferdinand that he was not a first-team regular, given his injury record and the competition at the club, and was not in a position to make such demands. Nevertheless, West Ham had offered Ferdinand around £35,000 a week which, in itself, represented a significant hike in his present wages.
Has Anton been getting tips of older brother Rio when it comes to wage demands? Or maybe he’s fed up with earning considerably less than his sibling, despite now earning more in a week than most people do in a year. Nevertheless, perhaps this is a good bit of business for the Hammers, who can potentially reinvest these funds and acquire a couple of new players.