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Stoke enter race for 166-goal Premier League legend discussed by West Ham - report
By Alex Taylor
Stoke City have entered the race to sign West Ham target Robin Van Persie, according to reports.
The Daily Mail claim that the Fenerbahce forward is eyeing a return to the Premier League after spells with both Arsenal and Manchester United in England.
The report says that the 32-year-old has also been discussed by the Hammers, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.
However, the player’s wage demands have proved a stumbling block in negotiations.
The Sun claim West Ham were willing to pay the £4million transfer fee required to bring the 101-time capped Holland international to England.
Van Persie is regarded as a Premier League all-time great after scoring 166 goals in 336 matches in the competition during his decade at Arsenal and United.
The progressive east London outfit were willing to bring back Hammers legend Carlos Tevez from Boca Juniors on a £150,000-a-week contract but reports suggested no talks were ever held to complete the transfer.
Slaven Bilic has already made a £24million move for AC Millan front-man Carlos Baca but it now seems West Ham will miss out on the forward.
In other West Ham transfer news, the Hammers have had their hopes of signing AC Milan striker M’Baye Niang dashed after he revealed he has not plans to quit the Italian club.