Hammers accept Sunderland's Ferdinand bid

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley claims his club have accepted a bid from Sunderland for Anton Ferdinand.

The 23-year-old defender is reportedly considering the offer, thought to involve a fee of approaching £8million.

Curbishley, whose team today lost 3-0 in the Barclays Premier League at Manchester City, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The board have accepted the bid – he’s not renegotiated his contract – and the decision was taken out of my hands.

“I don’t know where Anton is in terms of signing for Sunderland – but once the club accept the bid it moves on.”

Ferdinand’s current contract is set to end in 2010.

Curbishley, meanwhile, is hoping to sign a defender before the transfer window closes on September 1.

“We are thin on the ground,” he said.

“If we lose another defender we will have to react to that.”