TIHINEN SET TO LEAVE

The 24-year-old Finnish international has just completed a three-month loan spell at Upton Park, but it now seems as if he will start the new Norwegian season with Viking, rather than staying with The Hammers.

It now seems that Tihinen will stay with Viking until the summer, when the English transfer window re-opens.

"So far we haven't heard anything from other clubs, so we are not expecting any offers or inquiries until the summer," said Viking`s director of football Bjarne Berntsen.  "Hannu will stay until the summer.

"The offer from West Ham for Tihinen was less than the fee we agreed when he went on loan, and Viking could not accept their offer.

"If West Ham still want to buy him, they will have to come up with a lot better offer."

Berntsen said earlier this week that West Ham had been given an extended deadline until Monday to come up with a deal for the 'Iron Mountain', but it now seems highly likely that he will move back to Scandinavia.