Hammers Richards hopes collapse

West Ham hopes that they could reach agreement on Micah Richards’ loan terms bit the dust early this morning.

We reported last night the Irons were”50 per cent hopeful ” they could cut a deal with Manchester City but a £1 million loan fee and wages of £75k a week have made it impossible.

City – with other options having emerged -refused to budge on their terms leaving Hammers negotiators crestfallen this morning.

The deal for a season’s loan would have worked out at the thick end of £5 million and we have just been told: “We hoped we could get it down but City won’t budge and we just can’t afford it.

“We had stayed in negotiations because all the while we are talking there’s a chance but it was never better than fifty/fifty.”