Gareth Barry will be back in the Claret and Blue next season if the Hammers have their way…and that has been confirmed by top club insiders.
Silly season stories are par for the course in June but ClaretandHugh can reveal that the club’s interest in the former England midfielder is very real indeed.
Barry – a free agent this summer is understood to be likely to receive an offer of around £65,000 a week on a two year deal which, with no transfer fee involved, is seen as real value over the terms of the contract.
He’s the one player the board will be ready to break their “no over 27s policy” mentioned by co owner David Sullivan in his interview with the London Evening Standard last week.
Sullivan – in claiming he wanted a top six place – is ready to do a deal for the former Aston Villa star.
A top insider has this afternoon confirmed to Claretandhugh that the club will do its utmost to beat the likes of Arsenal, where Barry may struggle for games and Everton who have offered the player terms of £50,000 a week.
He said: “The club is trying even though it goes against the policy of younger players. We will break the rule for him because we regard him as outstanding.“
I’m not sure why we have this rule, I wanted us to get lescott
Because there’s no sell on value in them