Green gives West Ham something of a January dilemma

Robert Green could move away from Upton Park this January

It’s a precarious situation that West Ham find themselves in, in the lead up to the January transfer window. With Robert Green’s contract running out, the East London club are open to offers for the former Norwich keeper as they would prefer to cash in on him rather than lose him for free or have him buy out the final year of his contract.

Green, 29, who was signed for £2m in 2006 is now valued at £4-5m by West Ham and if the right deal comes in they will happily accept seeing as he does not look like he is any closer to signing a new contract.

Green, who was in goal as the Hammers beat Burnley 5-3 on Saturday to move out of the relegation zone, has enjoyed mixed fortunes this season and criticised his team mates following their poor start to the season. Since he was red carded in England’s game against Ukraine following a mistake by Rio Ferdinand, he has failed to regain his the number 1 jersey with Ben Foster now being preferred. Whilst in the claret and blue of West Ham he has experienced the highs of clawing a point off of Arsenal having been 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go.

The Hammers have continually denied that they will have to sell off players to improve finances despite still being controlled by failed Icelandic bank, Straumur, but the selling of Green could seem a good bit of business for both parties as a move to a new club could jump start Green’s career ahead of the World Cup next year whilst West Ham could use the money to bolster their team as they face what seems to be a tough relegation battle and at the same time slash their wage bill.

And they have already begun lining up replacements, if someone does meet their valuation of Green with Huddersfield’s highly rated Alex Smithies in the picture after being watched by West Ham coach Kevin Keen last week.

The situation is being closely monitored by Harry Redknapp of Tottenham who is looking for a new keeper following the motorcycle crash that has ruled Carlo Cudicini out for the rest of the season whilst Steve Bruce is interested too as Craig Gordon also has a long term injury but would prefer a player plus cash deal which may put West Ham off.

With Carlton Cole being linked with a move to either Liverpool or Manchester United and Matthew Upson being touted as a possible £5m signing for Liverpool despite him pledging his future to the E13 club earlier this month, West Ham would find their finances in better shape than expected but Green’s reluctance to sign a new contract could still see him sold.