Bowyer 'one of the bargains of all time' - O'Leary

Former Leeds boss David O’Leary has given his backing to West Ham’s swoop for Lee Bowyer.

O’Leary was in charge of the Londoner at Elland Road and is confident Hammers manager Glenn Roeder has made a shrewd move.

“Mark my words, Lee will go on to be the best buy Glenn will ever make,” O’Leary told The Sun.

“He will be a fantastic player at Upton Park and I am predicting right now he will go on to be their captain. He is very much West Ham’s gain and Leeds’ loss.

“When I think back to last summer, Liverpool were ready to fork out nearly £10m (€15m) to land Bow.

“Now West Ham have got him for just £500,000 (€760,000) – and that has got to be not only a pittance, but one of the bargains of all time.”

Many have questioned whether Bowyer can curb the aggressive tendencies which have seen him fall foul of the footballing authorities throughout his career, but O’Leary has no such concerns.

“He will help them immensely because he is an excellent boy in every sense of the word,” added the Irishman.

“Sure, he does at times do silly things on the pitch. And he really has got to cut out his stupid bits.

“But I’m convinced he will because he is mature enough now to realise you cannot go on doing the kind of things he did in that UEFA Cup tie for Leeds last month. He will be a revelation for the Hammers.

“I reckon playing for the team he has always supported since being a kid will bring out the best in him.”