As the Dimitri Payet saga rolls on, we remember the players who tried to force a move away from West Ham United.
Regretful request
Jermain Defoe was linked with an emotional return to West Ham this January, but there was a time when the striker was actively seeking a move away from the Hammers. Less than a day after the club were relegated from the Premier League, in 2003, Defoe stunned the West Ham hierarchy by turning in a transfer request. Defoe’s request would be rejected, and he would stay with the Irons until February of 2004, when Tottenham swapped him Bobby Zamora plus an additional £7million fee, according to the BBC. The former England international has since spoken of his regret at handing in the request, telling ITV4’s ‘Sport Stories’ that “It was a massive mistake. I didn’t really want to do it.. I can honestly say I still love that club.”
Jumping ship
Defoe wasn’t the only West Ham favourite to try and force a move following relegation. In 2011, Scott Parker, who had just been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his displays in a Hammers side which finished bottom, handed in a written transfer request in the final week of the summer transfer window. Parker’s desire to play Premier League football was granted when the Hammers sanctioned a £6 million move to Tottenham Hotspur, according to the Telegraph.
Time to go
There was a player who wanted to leave the Boleyn despite West Ham securing their Premier League safety. Hammers’ captain Nigel Reo Coker turned in a transfer request following their 1-0 win Manchester United, which secured their top flight status in 2007. As reported by Sky Sports, Reo Coker sought a move following criticism of his performances and eventually agreed a £8.5million deal to Aston Villa. Ironically, West Ham would sign future transfer rebel Scott Parker from Chelsea as a direct replacement for Reo Coker.
Anyone but Spurs
Speaking of Parker, there was an occasion when West Ham were reluctant to sell an unhappy player to Tottenham. In January of 2009, Spurs lodged a £12million bid for Hammers’ striker Craig Bellamy, according to The Daily Mail. West Ham refused the offer prompting Bellamy to show his frustration by handing in a transfer request. Despite a last-ditch contract offer from the club, the Welshman would end up joining Manchester City after being denied a preferred stay in London with Spurs.
A second chance?
Diafra Sahko and Ricardo Vaz Tee have also turned in transfer requests in recent years. As reported by Sky Sports, Sakho fell out with Hammers’ boss Slaven Bilic after losing his place in the side. As West Ham hunted for a big-name striker, Sakho saw his chance to leave and made his intentions perfectly clear to the club. However, issues over a pre-existing injury ended hopes of a move to West Bromwich Albion, and Sakho returned to the Hammers’ side to against Manchester United in October.
Similarly, Vaz Tee decided he wanted to jump ship after realising he was no longer part of Sam Allardyce’s plans in 2013, according to The Guardian. Despite his distruption, Vaz Tee would soon find himself back in the team and scoring again before a dislocated shoulder curtailed his run in the side. He would be released in January of 2015.
Covering tracks
One of the most controversial transfer request at West Ham revolved around George McCartney in 2008. The club claimed McCartney handed in a written transfer request before completing a switch to Premier League rivals Sunderland. As reported by The Guardian, the left-back denied those claims and hit back by accusing the club of trying to “cover their tracks.” McCartney put the blame on West Ham’s owners for failing to back manager Alan Curbishley’s plans.
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