West Ham boss rules out move for Man United man

Tuesday, August 28, 2012
12:06 PM

Transfer news: Sam Allardyce says the Hammers can’t afford Dimitar Berbatov

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has ruled out a move for Dimitar Berbatov and poured cold water on hopes of other signings before the transfer window shuts on Friday.

The 31-year-old joined Manchester United for a then club record of £30.75 million in 2008 but the signing of Robin van Persie has pushed him further down the pecking order and it is understood that the Bulgarian striker could be available for as little as £5 million.

Fiorentina and Dynamo Kiev are thought to be interested but while the Hammers chief has been keen to add another striker, Allardyce has all but ruled out a bid.

“I don’t think we’ve got the finances to sign Dimitar Berbatov,” he told Sky Sports.

“While the fee, compared to what Man United paid, looks relatively low, the financial package for the player’s salary is one I think is beyond us.

“It depends who is available. You can’t say, in our position, that you want this, that of the other.

“We’ve got to take somebody that might come up, that you can afford and that you think is better than what you’ve got.”

The Irons have also been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Joe Cole that would see the midfielder return to his first club.

However, the manager has poured cold water on hopes of bringing in more names.

“I don’t see much at all, to be honest with you, in terms of ins,” Allardyce said.

“I think that our finances now are on the limit, as it were, speaking to our co-chairmen. I think that we’ll work with what we’ve got.”

Should he make any last minute moves Allardyce said that they would be loans.

He said: “We’ll never say never, you never know what might turn up. But if it’s going to be anything, it’s never going to get past a loan deal, I think.”