Hammers Morrison deal “going through”

Talented Manchester United teenager Ravel Morrison is on the brink of joining Championship side West Ham.

Morrison is one of a quartet of players to travel to Upton Park for transfer deadline day negotiations, with Barnsley forward Ricardo Vaz Te, Genoa’s Ze Eduardo and Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard all hoping to join the Hammers.

A West Ham source told ESPNsoccernet: “Maynard and Vaz Te are at the club now, and the Morrison deal is going through, but expect West Ham to try to sell two or even three players, it’s hectic down there right now.”

Morrison, rated as one of the most naturally talented young players to come through United’s ranks since Paul Scholes, is reportedly demanding a £30,000-a-week contract at United – a figure the Premier League club are not willing to meet.

With the attacking midfielder’s current deal expiring at the end of the season, United have decided to sell now rather than risk a transfer fee being set by a tribunal in the summer.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce later told the London Evening Standard: “The deal is not quite done yet but we are hopeful it will be completed.

“Ravel is a talented lad and if he really wants to be a player then we will help him as much as we can along the way.

“Perhaps a change of environment will be beneficial to him and help him make that step up to first team football quicker than perhaps would have been the case at Manchester United. There is no doubt he has exceptional talent.”

The move represents something of a coup for West Ham as Premier League side Newcastle had an offer rejected by United earlier this month while Bolton had a bid accepted, only for the player to turn down the move.

While Roma were also seriously interested in the player, the opportunity to play first team football persuaded Morrison to move to Upton Park.

Morrison is rated by Trevor Brooking, the FA’s director of football development, alongside Paul Gascoigne and Jack Wilshere at the same age.

However, despite the youngster’s quality on the pitch, his short career has already been tainted by a series of disciplinary problems off it. Among them was a caution for assaulting his mother and he has been urged to seek counselling.

Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Tags: Manchester United, Ravel Morrison, West Ham United

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