UPDATE 2.30pm: Sky Sports report that we have bid £12 million for Ukrainian left winger Yevhen Konoplyanka. More HERE in the Mail.
Also, Talksport report that Ipswich are in for Stephen Henderson.
The absence of Alou Diarra and Maiga in the training camp in France has not gone un-noticed and it now appears very doubtful they will take any part in the pre season activities. It appears the club patience has run out and with no bids for either player in this or last transfer window West Ham appear to be ready to cut their losses by attempting to buy them out of their contracts.
Diarra joined West Ham United on a three-year contract in August 2012, for a fee believed to be around £2.5m on £40,000 per week. After joining West Ham United, Diarra said he was delighted to join the club and was looking forward to play in the Premier League.Chairman Vincent Labrune said he had been sold in order to reduce the wage bill as Diarra was claimed to be earning £60,000 per week with Marseille.
Diarra made his debut for West Ham on 25th August in a 3–0 away defeat to Swansea City coming on as a 69th minute substitute for Mohamed Diamé. Having made three appearances, Diarra first team opportunities soon became limited when he soon suffered thigh strain during training in September 2012. In the 2013 January transfer window, Diarra made a request to leave the club and criticised Sam Allardyce for holding him back by not explaining his [Allardyce] team selection. Diarra also said that his time at West Ham United has become a waste of time .After his move, Diarra claimed he was conned when his “well known” agent lied to him to join West Ham United. Diarra criticized West Ham United for his pre-season training schedule, having finished Euro 2012. Despite his comments Diarra returned to West Ham for the beginning of the 2013-14 season. In his second game of the season, a League Cup game against Cheltenham Town, he was carried-off injured after 34 minutes having damaged his anterior cruciate ligament. He was expected to miss the whole of the season due to this injury. Unexpectedly, Diarra returned to fitness in 2013 making his return in a 2-1 away win against Tottenham Hotspur on 18 December 2013 in the League Cup. He has made just six appearances in a West Ham shirt.
He is believed to have around £2m of wages remaining his remaining one year contract but it is usual practise to pay our 75% of the remaining wages meaning it would cost us £1.5m to him off our books unless he is prepared to accept a lower compromise agreement.
In July 2012, Maïga joined West Ham on a four-year contract with an option for a further two years for a fee around £4.7m on £30,000 per week. Maïga made his debut for West Ham on 18 August 2012 coming on as an 81st minute substitute for Carlton Cole in a 1–0 home win against Aston Villa. On 28 August 2012 Maïga scored on his full home debut against Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup to make the score 2–0 following Nicky Maynard’s opening goal. He scored his first league goal on 20 October against Southampton in a 4–1 win at the Boleyn Ground.
He has struggled to make an impact at Upton Park and has netted just three goals in 31 appearances.The Mali international joined QPR on loan the second half of last season with QPR paying half his £30,000 per week wages. The deal was only being as the clock counted down towards the January 2014 11pm deadline. He made 8 appearances scoring one goal on his debut for Harry.
With two years of his contract remaining he is owned nearly £3.1m in wages so a 75% buy out would cost the Hammers £2.3m unless the player does the decent thing negotiates a lower compromise agreement.