• Premier League

West Ham take 'gamble' with loan of Demba Ba

Harry Harris
January 24, 2011
Demba Ba will cost West Ham £2 million over six months © PA Photos
Enlarge

West Ham have confessed that they have taken a "gamble" in signing Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba on a six-month loan deal because of his injury problems.

Having failed a medical with Stoke, which caused the collapse of his proposed £7.1 million move to the Potteries, the centre-forward experienced similar problems with his Upton Park medical.

Stoke called off a deal to sign Ba but West Ham are willing to take a risk by signing him on loan, though the Hammers have refused to sign him permanently until he proves his fitness.

A West Ham insider told ESPNsoccernet: "The deal is now 99% done. The player's medical showed up the problem, but as a loan its worth a gamble and it is a gamble!"

The Hammers will pay £500,000 for the loan fee and another £1.5 million in wages.

Having failed to lure a succession of top targets to Upton Park, mainly due to the prohibitive price tags from their clubs on top of high wages, West Ham will be relieved to have finally signed a striker to help bolster Avram Grant's attack in the club's fight for Premier League survival.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices