Adebayour move collapses

West Ham’s proposed signing of striker Emmanuel Adebayor has fallen through after his current club Monaco opted to keep the player.

The Hammers had agreed a deal with Monaco and claimed Adebayor was keen on a move to east London.

However, Monaco have had a last-minute change of heart and want to hold onto the 21-year-old Togo international.

West Ham managing director Paul Aldridge said: “Early on Tuesday morning we were completing the paperwork and making arrangements for the player to travel back to England with us to undergo a medical and visit the Boleyn Ground and Chadwell Heath training complex.

“It was then that we received a telephone call from Monaco saying that the club had changed their minds and that Emmanuel was no longer for sale.

“Obviously this is extremely disappointing, not only for West Ham United, but also for the player, who was very excited about the possibility of moving to England and playing for West Ham United.

“Unfortunately, unless Monaco change their decision the deal cannot be completed and Alan Pardew will now move on to look at other transfer targets.”

Hammers striker Bobby Zamora is looking to continue his goalscoring form into the Premiership next season.

Zamora, whose goals in the play-offs took the Hammers back to the Premiership, scored the equaliser in a friendly at Dutch club Den Haag and is looking for a starting berth.

The former Tottenham and Brighton marksman is still trying to prove to manager Alan Pardew he is the man for the job, after getting jeered by fans during parts of last season.

He returned after missing Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace through tendinitis to put in a fine display in Holland, which he capped with an 80th-minute strike to protect West Ham’s unbeaten pre-season run.

Zamora, 24, has now scored four goals during the Barclays Premiership build-up and now cannot wait for the big kick-off against Blackburn on August 13.

He said: “Everyone’s buzzing about the new season and the closer it gets the more everyone looks forward to it. Pre-season has been really positive, and although the results are not hugely important, it’s good to have gone through unbeaten so far.”

He told West Ham’s official website www.whufc.com: “The game in Holland was really competitive. A bit more. It was a tough work-out, but that’s what we’re looking for at this stage because we know that’s exactly what we’re going to get against Blackburn.

“The squad is looking strong, the gaffer has brought in some new players who have fitted in really well and now we’re just going to be working over the next week or so to make sure we’re exactly right and on our game for Blackburn.”