Henry on West Ham's radar

West Ham United have launched an ambitious move to lure Thierry Henry back to the Premier League.

The 32-year-old former Arsenal captain has seen starting opportunities at current club Barcelona become limited during the second half of the Spanish season.

A summer move Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls has been suggested but the Hammers are keen to bring the France international back to England.

Co-owner David Sullivan has revealed he would be willing to pay the striker £75,000 a week as part of a two-year contract.

Sullivan told The Sun: "We're trying to assemble a more prolific strikeforce at West Ham and I'd love to have Henry here.

"Our club is in debt but a striker of his quality and standing would make it a great deal.

"Henry is still up there with the best.

"I've made an offer which would make him the highest-paid player in the club's history.

"And it's a serious offer because Henry could walk into almost any Premier League side."

West Ham sack Gianfranco Zola

One of the most anticipated departures in football was announced by the Premier League club just after 10am today.
It is understood that Zola was sacked for a breach of contract, with West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold believed to be unhappy with comments he made after it was announced that all the players, apart from Scott Parker, would be available for transfer.
 Related ArticlesWest Ham season reviewWest Ham in Olympic Stadium talks with AEGWest Ham 2012 stadium bid 'credible'Kieron Dyer tops huge West Ham payrollWest Ham wage bill laid bareZola to meet ownersZola responded by saying that if he was Mark Noble or Valon Behrami he wouldn't be very happy to have heard the news.
Zola's meeting with Karen Brady, the club's vice-chairman, this morning lasted just minutes before the manager was told of
Sullivan said: "I can't comment on what will be a legal dispute."
The Italian's departure was inevitable after a succession of barbed comments from Sullivan and Gold.
After a defeat by Wolves at home, Sullivan posted an apology for the performance on the club's website.
In it he called the squad "unbalanced", and described their recent performances as "pathetic", even going as far as to say: "Nobody at the club should delude themselves that we are a good team. The table at this stage of the season does not lie."
Indeed, Zola came close to quitting after a run of six straight defeats but, after flying to his family home in Sardinia, he returned to pledge his short-term future to the club.
The former Chelsea legend was impressed with the backing he received from his players, but his record has not been impressive.
In 80 games, Zola won just 23 while losing 36, a success rate of just 29 per cent.
After Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City, his last in charge, he responded to questions about his future with a short but polite: 'See you in the future,' a clear indication that his time at the Boleyn Ground was running out.
And Sullivan's programme notes on Sunday claimed that the team's efforts were 'below the expectations at the start of the season'.
Avram Grant, who has performed a minor miracle in getting Portsmouth to the FA Cup final, has emerged as the immediate favourite for the job.
Other contenders include former Blackburn and Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, but he may prove too expensive.
Former Spurs manager Martin Jol and one-time West Ham favourite Slaven Bilic are also among the front-runners. 

West Ham United

West Ham United Football Club is an East London club based in Upton Park, London Borough of Newham, East London. The club have played home matches at the Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904. The club were founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. They initially competed in the Southern League and Western League before eventually joining the full Football League in 1919 and subsequently enjoyed promotion to the top flight for the 1923 season. 1923 also saw the club feature in the first FA Cup Final to be held at Wembley against Bolton Wanderers. West Ham currently compete in the Premier League, and finished in ninth position in the 2008–09 season. They have been members of the Premier League for all but three seasons since its creation in 1992, and their highest finish in the Premier League was fifth in the 1998–99 season. West Ham's current manager is Italian Gianfranco Zola, who replaced former player Alan Curbishley in September 2008 after his resignation was accepted.

In 1940 the team won the inaugural Football League War Cup. Subsequently the club have won the FA Cup three times: in 1964, 1975 and 1980 as well as being runners-up twice, in 1923 and 2006. In 1965, they won the European Cup Winners Cup, and in 1999 they won the Intertoto Cup. The club's best final league position is third place in the 1985–86 (old) First Division.

Three West Ham players were considered an important factor behind England's triumph in the 1966 World Cup, as England's captain at the time was West Ham's Bobby Moore, and both goalscorers in the final were Hammers players Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.