New West Ham striker Mido has indicated that he wants to stay at Upton Park beyond his loan spell.
Sullivan reveals failed Keane interest on deadline day
New West Ham striker Mido has indicated that he wants to stay at Upton Park beyond the duration of his loan spell.
The Egyptian arrived at Upton Park until the end of the season as a man on a mission on winter transfer deadline day, telling
Sky Sports News that he wanted to prove a point in English football.
Mido, who is officially still owned by Middlesbrough, has been branded a flop after disappointing at The Riverside and former clubs Tottenham and Wigan.
But having accepted a substantial pay cut to join West Ham, the 26-year-old is determined to show he can be a long-term success in the Premier League by helping his new club away from relegation danger.
"It is an exciting challenge for me. It is another new club, but hopefully I can prove myself and stay here for longer," Mido told West Ham's
official website.
"We had other offers, but I have decided to play here. West Ham have a great team and manager, and that was a big factor in deciding to come here.
"I know a lot of the players here and the fans are passionate. We have got everything you need to get in the top 10 and I hope to play my part in helping the club to move up.
Token salary
"We will all be doing our best to start winning games. I am fit to play this weekend (at Burnley), and will try to do the business for West Ham."
Meanwhile, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed the club failed to land Robbie Keane from Tottenham, as the Irishman instead went to Celtic on loan.
Sullivan said: "Mido has come to us for a token salary because he wants to prove himself, he wants to prove he can be a force in the English game.
"He can earn £50,000-a-week staying where he is or going back to Boro, but he has come to us because he wants to prove himself in the Premier League and he wants to play for West Ham."
Sullivan added: "We simply can't afford Robbie Keane. Of course, we'd have liked him, who wouldn't? But it would have worked out at £105,000 a week for the rest of this season, as well as a transfer fee. We simply cannot afford it.
"Then we have Mido. It would be one of the most amazing deals of all time.
"He doesn't want to be known as a 'has been' of English football, so he willing to come here to play for a nominal fee, just £1,000 a week."
