KANOUTE ASKS TO LEAVE HAMMERS
The French striker was the subject of an £8 million bid from Fulham on Thursday morning and the former Lyon man has now indicated that he would welcome a move to Craven Cottage.
The 22-year-old striker has often said over the last two years that he would be interested in a move to a bigger club, although this may not be the case in this instance as it seems that the French connection at Fulham has convinced him a move to The Cottagers is the right career move.
Kanoute played alongside Fulham striker Louis Saha as a youngster in the junior French national sides and Jean Tigana was the coach at Lyon when he was a young player at the club.
"I have to admit I would like to play for Fulham," Kanoute told Skysport.com TV. "I know Jean Tigana very well. He used to train the team in Lyon when I was a junior.
"It was a very good year at West Ham. Things have changed now though. We have seen the manager go. Players have gone, like Rio and Frank Lampard. Its not the same as when I joined the club."
"I was very happy playing under Harry. His leaving has changed things."
West Ham are sure to do all they can to prevent such a move taking place, but in these days of player power it seems unlikely that Kanoute can be prevented from moving on if his mind is already made up.
Having already turned down bids of £10 million-plus for the player last season, West Ham are certain to demand a higher fee to that currently offered by the West London club.
Hammers boss Glenn Roeder has previously said that he would not consider letting Kanoute leave the club, following the departure of Frank Lampard earlier this month.
"I can emphasise right from the outset that Freddie is not available," Roeder said.
"Freddie is bound to attract interest because he proved last season what a good player he is.
"Now I am relishing the chance to help improve him even more and perhaps find someone to play up the middle with him, from either within the club or outside."
This news comes as a further blow to Hammers fans who saw Harry Redknapp leave the club following an argument over transfer funds earlier in the summer, had Roeder appointed when many - including Paulo di Canio - had called for a more experienced choice and also saw Lampard leave the club for bitter rivals Chelsea.
However, despite Kanoute's desire to leave the club, Hammers' MD Paul Aldridge told the official Club website that no official offer has been received.
"I'm on holiday in Spain, just a phone call away, but I've not had any contact from Fulham about Fredi," said Aldridge.
"As for their reported bid of £8m, that's laughable. We've already turned down offers well in excess of that figure, and Fredi's agent himself has told us before that he could deliver more than £11m for Fredi if we were ever prepared to consider selling him, which of course we're not."
For Fulham though, Kanoute's comments could be just the boost they need with a little over the month to go until the start of the new season after top summer targets Jan Koller and John-Arne Riise turned them down in favour of moves to Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool respectively.
