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Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Jamie O’Hara spoke of his “massive relief” after his prematurely born son was given the all clear following brain and heart scans.

The 25-year-old celebrated the news by scoring his third goal in four games for Wolves in Sunday’s vital 3-1 success over Wigan at Molineux.

Harry O’Hara was born 10 weeks premature in mid July, weighing just four pounds four ounces, and then spent five weeks in a special unit at a midlands hospital.

But scans at the latter end of last week were positive and O’Hara, and mother Danielle Lloyd, revealed his joy after helping Wolves to their first win in nine games.

“It is good news about Harry,” he said. “We had a couple of scans the other day just to get the all clear. He had a few head scans and he has been given the all clear.

“Hopefully now we can just feed him up, get him on the burger and chips, and he will be flying around like the other one (Archie)!

“It is a massive relief. It has been hard for the last three months. Being in and out of hospital was really tough for us, myself and the missus.

“But we’ve come through that as a family and it is great for us.”

O’Hara added: “Is Harry out of the woods completely? Hopefully. He had some bright spots on the brain and that is all cleared up.

“He had a problem with his heart and that is all cleared up now. Hopefully he will be running around like the other one causing mayhem.

“My fiance keeps telling me to dedicate the goals to him. I just keep forgetting. I need to get another tattoo of him so I can dedicate it to him.”

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25. Danielle Lloyd (Jamie O’Hara)

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara is on the verge of signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a permanent deal.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at Molineux last season, scoring three goals in 13 games, as Wolves managed to avoid relegation.

O’Hara has been edging close to a White Hart Lane exit for the last few years after appearing not to feature in manager Harry Redknapp’s plans.

A £5million agreement was already in place as part of the loan deal should both sides wish to carry out the move.

The former England U21 international is now discussing terms on a five-year contract, and according to the Press Association, should be completed in the next 24 hours.

O’Hara was often used effectively just behind the main striker in a 4-5-1 formation as Wolves guaranteed Premier League football for a third successive season.

Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy is also interested in signing Liverpool left-back Paul Konchesky who spent the second half of last season on-loan at Nottingham Forest.

The Wolves boss is also looking for a new keeper as back-up for Wayne Hennessey after Marcus Hahnemann was released at the end of last season.

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Instead of contemplating how to strengthen in preparation for a second season in the Champions League, Tottenham Hotspur are now steeling themselves for a summer clear-out while at the same time attempting to hang on to their prized asset Gareth Bale.

Following Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City that confirmed fourth place is beyond their reach, senior figures at the club met yesterday to reassess their current squad in the light of their disappointing end to the season.

Chairman Daniel Levy is determined to keep hold of Bale but will not sanction further spending on new recruits until there has been a clear-out of some other established stars to streamline the first-team squad and reduce the wage bill.

Levy wants to sell several high-profile players, including four who are currently out on loan – striker Robbie Keane, who is at West Ham, and midfielders Jamie O’Hara (at Wolverhampton Wanderers), Giovani dos Santos (at Racing Santander) and David Bentley (at Birmingham City).

Defender Jonathan Woodgate and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini are both out of contract in the summer and are unlikely to be offered new deals.

Tottenham will also listen to offers for the likes of Roman Pavlyuchenko, Niko Kranjcar, Alan Hutton, Vedran Corluka and Wilson Palacios.

SOURCE: Independent

Whilst this does look like one hell of a major cull, things may not be as bad as they seem. It is clear that Harry Redknapp has a massive Tottenham squad and failure to qualify for the Champions League will have a knock on effect on the club’s finances, but it is far more beneficial to remove under performing members of the squad rather than having to listen to offers for the club’s top stars.

The likes of Rafael Van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Sandro have all been strongly linked with interest from Europe’s elite and Redknapp has steadfastly held his ground by stating that none of those players would be sold, so clearly in order to not have to sell any of his important players, he knows he must cut a swathe of players from his squad that do not offer him a great deal.

Of those on this list from the Independent arguably only a handful would be missed. Those out on loan were clearly on the periphery and the likes of Keane and Giovani have stated their desire to move on. Pavlyuchenko is consistently linked with a move away from Tottenham and the Russian may feel that the time is right to leave after failing to convince Redknapp that he should be a first team regular.

Right backs Corluka and Hutton have shared duties this term but Redknapp has been linked with moves to bring in a new player for that position. Palacios looks a shadow of the player he was last term and Kranjcar, though talented, is not better than those ahead of him in the pecking order.

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Harry Redknapp is planning to swing the axe to trim his White Hart Lane squad and help fund new additions this summer. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is willing to help back his White Hart Lane boss but insists that the North London club sheds a decent chunk of it’s extensive squad.

Robbie Keane will be offered to West Ham at the end of the season and the Irish international has already stated his desire to stick with the East London club if they manage to avoid the drop but if the Hammers do get relegated there are sure to be many interested parties with a move back to Wolves also been mooted.

Winger David Bentley has done well out on loan to Birmingham City and they too may look to make the deal a permanent one but Blackburn Rovers are also said to be keen on bringing their former star performer back to Ewood Park. A number of Spanish sides are looking to capture Mexican flair player Giovani, a player who Harry Redknapp appears to see as being something of a luxury he doesn’t feel he needs.

Wolves are apparently willing to meet the £5m asking price for midfielder Jamie O’Hara who has been a big hit at Molineux, helping Mick McCarthy’s side to three wins and a draw in his six starts with the club. Redknapp is known to be an admirer of the youth team graduate but due to the amount of quality players in his position he sees that keeping the player would only hold up the 24 year old’s career progression.

Niko Kranjcar has been targeted by a number of Premier League sides and the Croatian is beginning to run out of patience and may well also be allowed to leave. The 26 year old playmaker has been handed just two Premier League starts and could be offloaded to the likes of Liverpool or Newcastle who are both said to be interested although Redknapp is said to be prefer selling to a foreign club if possible.

Though Roman Pavlyuchenko is the most prolific of Tottenham’s strikers he still appears to not be a first choice starter and the Russian may look to leave the club and his wish will be granted if Harry Redknapp snaps up one of the many targets he appears to be chasing. The 29 year old former Spartak Moscow man has netted 10 goals in 18 starts this term and could be lured back to Russia.

The final piece of the exit jigsaw may will come down to form in the remaining games of this season with the right back berth being battled over by Scottish international Alan Hutton and Croat Vedran Corluka.

Harry Redknapp will consider selling one or the other at the end of this term but appears undecided on the matter. Hutton has predominantly been the first choice but Corluka is seen as more suited to European competition and is also effective at centre back.

Such moves to finance additions will become all the more pertinent if Tottenham fail to secure a Champions League spot.

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I’ve chosen a standard 4-4-2 formation.

GK: Edwin Van Der Sar (Manchester United)
He might be forty, but it never showed.  The Dutchman was above everything Wigan had to throw at him.

RB: Nicky Shorey (West Brom)
A good performance by the full back, helped ensured they kept liverpool at bay and achieve a great result.

CB: Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
A shaky start, but the youngster soon found his footing and provided another reliable performance.

CB: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa)
Another strong centre-back, helped keep the villa backline in control and on the road to victory.

LB: Leighton Baines (Everton)
Helped keep Sunderland out and held steady when tested.

RM: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Why he isnt an England regular I will never know, fast and powerful all game. Well taken penalty and great second goal.

CM: Scott Parker (West Ham)
A trooper for West Ham, despite the injury he played supurbly and kept encouraging the team forward.

CM: Jamie O’Hara (Wolverhampton)
The combative midfielder fought hard to give wolves a well deserved victory and managed to grab a goal.

LM: Nani (Manchester United)
Every part of his play screams ronaldo, and could eventually become better than him.  Unluckly this time not to get on the score sheet but made some lovely assists.

FW: Jermaine Beckford (Everton)
Everton’s hero, grabbing two great goals and giving the team a well needed victory.

FW: Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
Use him as a starter, use him as a substitute, it doesnt matter he’ll score anyway, and always in style.

Substitutes:

Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)
The Villa veteran did well to keep Blackburn out, and by the time they scored, the game was well over.
Matthew Upson (West Ham)
Kept Liverpool searching for ways to break through the entire game.
Cheik Tiote (Newcastle)
The midfielder fought hard to keep the Newcastle midfield organised.
Robert Pires (Aston Villa)
The frenchman has lost none of his class from his time at Arsenal.  Great to see him back in the premier league.
Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa)
The winger was excellent going forward, and with Young on the opposite wing, the team were hard to stop.
Louis Saha (Everton)
The former Man United striker is almost back to his best.  Always a threat when the ball is around him.
Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton)
The striker came on to cap off an excellent game for Wolves. A great performance.

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West Ham have had a fairly horrible season so far.

Aside from a decent Christmas period, the Hammers have been in shocking form.

The only reason they are still in touch is because 3 of their 4 wins have come against fellow relegation rivals Wigan Athletic, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers – but they still sit bottom of the Premier League.

Is the current malaise around Upton Park the fault of Avram Grant, the players or the meddling board?

Probably a bit of all three.

Certainly the majority of the players endured a similarly struggling campaign with Gianfranco Zola in charge, which slightly advocates Avram Grant from blame.

However, to use Liverpool as a counterpoint, the Reds have used the same players under both Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish and the contrast has been clear to see.

A new manager should be able to have an effect on his team by employing different tactics and installing a different mentality.

However, the players have severely underperformed – perhaps with the exception of Scott Parker – and they have to also be accountable.

Furthermore, both Gianfranco Zola and Avram Grant as well as the players could argue that they have been regularly undermined by the board’s insistence on criticising the team’s performances publicly, and the constant unresolved speculation over either manager’s future must hardly ease tension within West Ham ranks.

West Ham undoubtedly had an appalling start to the season, but perhaps they could have turned it around earlier without the needless sniping from the board.

Will the owners back Grant in the transfer market now?

All the signs are that they will have to in order to stave off relegation – irrespective of who’s in charge.

Here are ten potential January transfer targets as reported elsewhere in the media.

1. Gary O’Neil

At time of writing Gary O’Neil is yet to complete his projected transfer to West Ham from Middlesbrough, but it is clear where the Hammers will benefit upon its conclusion.

O’Neil is an excellent crosser of the ball, and also capable of a mean free kick. He is capable of playing both on the right wing and in the centre of midfield, but it is on the flank where West Ham fans can expect to see him.

2. Jamie O’Hara

Jamie O’Hara is another expected to add drive to the West Ham midfield, and was one of the few Portsmouth players to have been judged a success in the ultimately unsuccessful relegation battle under Avram Grant.

Merely on loan at Portsmouth then, O’Hara has returned to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur and is unable to get playing time.

Both he and Spurs are likely to be open to a move.

3. Itay Shechter

Aside from perhaps Frederic Piquionne, West Ham United’s strikers are not firing.

Hapoel Tel Aviv striker Itay Shechter certainly is though, and has 37 goals in 72 games for his club.

The 23 year-old appears to be a natural finisher, and could certainly be the goal threat that West Ham are looking for, but Hapoel would be looking for considerably more than the $500,000 he cost them back in 2009.

4. Robbie Keane

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to offload Robbie Keane, and as a player who cost £20m two and a half years ago, he still ought to have plenty to offer.

Somehow though, his decline has been rapid.

Now 30 years of age, his stock could hardly be lower, but proven Premier League goalscorers are hard to come by, and West Ham may well take the gamble on the Irishman.

5. Srdan Lakic

Srdan Lakic is a striker for FC Kaiserslauten in the German Bundesliga, and has been quite a success indeed.

The 6’1″ Croatian has scored 30 goals in 66 league games since signing for the club, but an offer of £2m may tempt his employers into a sale – according to the Daily Mirror

6. Peter Utaka

Avram Grant managed the older Utaka brother John while at Portsmouth, and there are steadily building rumours that he could go for the 27 year-old Peter Utaka.

The Odense Boldklub has scored 56 goals in 100 games for the Danish club, but the English Premier League would be a tougher prospect.

Pressure to be an immediate success would be another issue though, for West Ham need a goalscoring solution straight away, but the Daily Mail believe Peter Utaka is their man.

7. Sol Campbell

The West Ham defence has also been shaky this season, conceding 43 goals in 24 Premier League games so far. That run includes just 3 clean sheets.

Sol Campbell proved last season on loan at Arsenal that he still has something to offer at the highest level, and while he has been unable to displace Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson from the Newcastle United first XI, he could slot right into West Ham United’s, according to the Daily Mirror.

Could an experienced head be what the Hammers need?

8. Shaun Wright-phillips

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has made it clear that Shaun Wright-phillips is available this transfer window, and there are plenty of suitors out there for the England winger.

The Daily Star believes that West Ham are amongst those.

Wright-Phillips is a fine dribbler with an extremely powerful shot, but his propensity to hit wayward five yard passes and shanked crosses make him a risk.

With no first team football at Eastlands, perhaps Wright-Phillips would be open to a West Ham move – but that would of course mean Gary O’Neil playing centrally.

9. El Hadji Diouf

Although a man who isn’t even particularly popular with his own supporters, El Hadji Diouf is still a good footballer capable of playing on both wings and up front.

Due to persistent spitting attacks on opposition players while at Bolton Wanderers, then manager Sam Allardyce considered sending Diouf for counselling.

The spitting seems to have ceased, but he was recently described by QPR boss Neil Warnock as “lower than a sewer rat” after reportedly taunting Jamie Mackie as he lay on the ground with a broken leg.

Is avoiding relegation is more important than popularity?

That is the dilemma for West Ham – if the Daily Mirror’s report is accurate.

10. Joe Cole

It is a near universal opinion that Joe Cole hasn’t been a roaring success at Liverpool, and if the Anfield club look to cut their losses rather than give him time, West Ham would certainly be interested.

For most clubs, Cole’s wages might prove a problem, but David Gold and David Sullivan have proved by forking out for Wayne Bridge’s £90,000 per week that they are willing to spend what it takes.

At his best, Joe Cole could be a real lift for the fans and fellow players, with his dribbling and creativity a great outlet for his team.

However, the more desperate to impress he gets, the less often his attempted tricks and through balls seem to come off, and West Ham can’t afford to waste chances at present.

Would Joe Cole’s signing be a fairytale homecoming or an expensive mistake?

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Tottenham will test Aston Villa’s resolve over Ashley Young with a January move for the England midfielder.
Villa boss Gerard Houllier has insisted he will not let his £15million-rated star leave this winter even though he is out of contract in 18 months.

But Harry Redknapp wants Young to help spearhead Spurs’ battle to retain a Champions League spot so will pull out all the stops in a bid to seal the deal.

The White Hart Lane chief is ready to offer the Frenchman his pick of Tottenham’s misfits like Robbie Keane, David Bentley, Nico Kranjcar and Jamie O’Hara as makeweights.

And Redknapp would even consider loaning Villa ex-Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate, who is finally back in training after 18 months out with a groin injury.

A Spurs source said: “It’s no secret Harry is a big fan of Ashley Young and would like to take him.

“So he’s hoping the likes of Keane and Bentley could tempt Villa into doing business.

“That way Houllier gets a proven goalscorer and a like-for-like replacement, not to mention a few bob to add to his own kitty.” (The Sun)

Gerard Houllier seems resigned to losing winger Ashley Young and whilst some reports suggest that Manchester United are leading the chase it appears that has not deterred Harry Redknapp from making an offer for the England winger.

Given that Aston Villa’s part swap deal for James Milner didn’t exactly pay off, with Stephen Ireland failing to spark his Villa Park career into life, it may be that the French boss opts for the cash offer rather than taking his pick of Tottenham bench warmers.

However perhaps a move for prolific marksman Robbie Keane may work well for the Midlands club and maybe Niko Kranjcar can offer Aston Villa a bit more guile in the midfield? David Bentley or Jamie O’Hara are unlikely to make Houllier salivate.

Watch this space.

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West Ham United willing to take Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane on loan deal in bid to beat the drop
West Ham United are to join the bidding for Tottenham Hotspur’s Robbie Keane by offering the striker a six-month loan deal with the option of a three-year contract should he help keep them up.

Keane is surplus to requirements at Spurs with manager Harry Redknapp desperate to move him on so he can make room in his squad.
Aston Villa and Birmingham City — who have both wanted Keane in the past — have been linked with new moves, as have Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, while there have been suggestions that the 30 year-old could be used as a makeweight to tempt Newcastle United into selling Andy Carroll.
West Ham have been offered Keane before and will resist Spurs’ attempts to use the negotiations as a way of obtaining Scott Parker.
Spurs are also hoping to move Jamie O’Hara to Upton Park and he is also interesting West Ham, who would have made a move for the midfielder in the summer had he not been injured.(Telegraph)

It looks like West Ham will back Avram Grant in the January transfer window as they look to extrictate themselves from a rather sticky situation. A move for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane seems like a win/win thing for all concerned. The Irishman gets first team football and a chance to prove himself (much like he did when he went on loan to Celtic last January) and the Hammers get a player eager to get himself firing on all cylinders.

Keane has not had much of a look in this season, managing just two starts in all competitions, but he is by no means over the hill and could well be the type of loan signing that saves the Hammers from the dreaded drop. If the former Liverpool, Leeds, Coventry, Wolves and Inter man keeps the club up he gets a nice three year deal at Upton Park. Remember we are talking about a player who has bagged 200+ top flight goals and is still just 30 so clearly a player who knows how to hit the back of the net wherever he has played.

Jamie O’Hara will also be a useful addition and again, like Keane, the attack minded midfielder is also looking for a fresh start and is clearly a player Avram Grant knows well from his time at Portsmouth. A deal for the pair is thought to be worth a reasonable £12.5m.

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