Paper Talk
Arsenal are preparing an incredible £64m move for Real Madrid star Isco in the hope to beat up off competition from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Liverpool midfielder Suso has agreed a four-year deal at AC Milan.
Sources say a deal for Oldham to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans is imminent.
Manchester United are poised to increase the pressure to land Aston Villa centre-back Ron Vlaar.
Steven Gerrard is set to confirm his move to LA Galaxy in the next 24 hours.
Manchester City are closing in on a £30m deal for Swansea striker Wilfried Bony.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is ready to compete with Arsenal for the signature of Porto's Colombian World Cup star Juan Quintero, a £16m-rated midfielder.
Saido Berahino's £15m exit from West Brom could be set in motion this week with talks planned with new boss Tony Pulis.
Arsenal misfits Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo could leave the club this week.
John Carver will be in charge of Newcastle at Chelsea on Saturday after being given the green light to extend his spell as caretaker boss.
Gus Poyet hopes to resurrect his interest in Manchester City midfielder Bruno Zuculini.
Morgan Schneiderlin could leave Southampton in the summer. Arsenal and Tottenham are interested but know they are unlikely to seal a move until the next window.
Arsenal are on the brink of sealing their first transfer of 2015 with Polish teenager Krystian Bielik is thought to be on his way to north London.
Harry Maguire is ready to ask Hull boss Steve Bruce to send him out on loan.
Cristiano Ronaldo will end his career in the United States, confirms agent Jorge Mendes.
Swansea striker Wilfried Bony wants £200,000 a week to sign for Manchester City.
Harry Maguire is ready to head out on loan after growing frustrated at his bit-part role at Hull.
Wigan are ready to sign Blackpool striker Ishmael Miller.
Swansea manager Garry Monk wants to make Tom Carroll's loan move from Tottenham permanent.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has renewed his pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Bruno Zuculini.
Hull will have to find £10.4m in wages to bring striker Jermain Defoe to the club.
Defender Younes Kaboul is poised to quit Tottenham for Turkish club Besiktas.
Arsenal hope to land West Ham defender Winston Reid for a cut-price £3m this month.
Manchester City have agreed a £30m fee for Swansea striker Wilfried Bony.
Tottenham are being offered West Brom striker Saido Berahino in exchange for Andros Townsend and Aaron Lennon.
Ched Evans is set to be confirmed as an Oldham player today.
John Carver is set to be in charge of Newcastle at Chelsea on Saturday after being given the green light to extend his spell as caretaker manager.
Former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu could take over as Nottingham Forest boss with Stuart Pearce on the brink.
Leicester have smashed their transfer record to sign Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric.
AC Milan and Schalke are interested in Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic who can leave the club for £8m.
Arsene Wenger is making moves to sign Winston Reid this month.
Arsenal have had a bid for Legia Warsaw starlet Krystian Bielik rejected.
Angel Di Maria has ruled out Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United.
Spurs skipper Younes Kaboul is a target for Besiktas.
Manchester City are on the brink of a £30million deal to sign Swansea striker Wilfried Bony and strengthen their strike force for a treble bid.
Oldham will today press ahead with their controversial efforts to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans.
Newcastle have told PSG they will have to make a mouth-watering offer to sign midfielder Moussa Sissoko.
Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj is among the targets for Real Sociedad boss David Moyes, along with Arsenal striker Joel Campbell.
Arsenal are expected to push ahead with their interest in Legia Warsaw teenage midfielder Krystian Bielik during the transfer window.
Leicester last night pulled off a transfer record coup to land Croatian goalscorer Andrej Kramaric.
Manchester City are set to sign Wilfried Bony after opening talks with Swansea over a £30million deal for the Ivory Coast striker.
Wojciech Szczesny is fighting to save his Arsenal career with Arsene Wenger actively seeking a new No 1.
Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard has travelled to Spain ahead of talks with Real Madrid.
Crystal Palace are interested in signing Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert.
Lionel Messi's future at Barcelona has been thrown into doubt once more and club legend Hristo Stoichkov believes the Argentina international could leave the Nou Camp.
Real Sociedad manager David Moyes is looking to sign Joel Campbell on loan from Arsenal but faces competition from rivals Villarreal.
Stoke City assistant manager Mark Bowen has revealed that Bayern Munich attacker Xherdan Shaqiri is a surprise transfer target for the club.
Celtic are continuing to make Kris Commons sweat on a new deal as they prepare to sound out Dundee United over Stuart Armstrong.
Celtic are considering a shock move for Brescia's Libya international midfielder Ahmad Benali.
Roma have expressed an interest in Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech despite Jose Mourinho saying he would not leave the club this month.
BBC
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Leicester City have beaten Chelsea to the signing of Rijeka's 23-year-old Croatia striker Andrej Kramaric after agreeing a club-record fee of £9.7m. (Times - subscription required)
Tottenham are being offered West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 21, in exchange for midfielders Andros Townsend, 23, and Aaron Lennon, 27. (Daily Mirror)
Real Madrid are on the brink of signing 16-year-old Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard - a reported target for many of England's top clubs - after flying him to the Spanish capital in a private jet on Tuesday evening. (Inside Futbol)
Manchester United say they have had no contact from the same player's representatives after he visited the club's training complex and Old Trafford before Christmas. (Manchester Evening News)
Arsenal are still interested in Southampton's £25m-rated France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 25. (London Evening Standard)
Meanwhile, the Gunners and the Saints will battle it out for £16m-rated Colombia midfielder Juan Quintero, 21, currently at Porto. (Daily Star)
Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul, 29, is set to quit the club after falling out of favour, with Turkish side Besiktas having made an approach. (Sun - subscription required)
Striker Andrew Johnson, 33, is a free agent again after his short-term deal at Crystal Palace expired. (Daily Mail)
Liverpool have agreed a £10m deal to sign Bayern Munich's Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, 23. (Daily Star)
Arsenal have had a bid rejected by Polish side Legia Warsaw for 17-year-old midfielder Krystian Bielik. (Sky Sports)
David Moyes's Real Sociedad are in advanced talks to sign 22-year-old Arsenal forward Joel Campbell. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Borussia Dortmund appear willing to let Manchester United sign £16m-rated midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 24, this winter. (Daily Express)
West Ham are showing an interest in 27-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez. (Daily Mail)
Liverpool are yet to approach Lille about a possible recall of 19-year-old Belgium striker Divock Origi, according to the French club's president Michel Seydoux. (Talksport)
Chelsea striker Islam Feruz, 19, is keen to sign for Cardiff City on loan until the end of the season. (Wales Online)
Chicago Fire have announced the signing of former Southampton striker Guly do Prado, 33. (MLS)
OTHER GOSSIP
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, 26, could make his return from a knee ligament injury against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. (Manchester Evening News)
England manager Roy Hodgson has described Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, 21, as having "come on leaps and bounds". (Daily Mail)
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar believes the club could be plunged into "disarray" when captain Steven Gerrard, 34, leaves at the end of the season. Talksport
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, 24, expects to regain his place in the Arsenal team to face Stoke City on Sunday, despite the furore over him smoking a cigarette in the shower area of the dressing room after his most recent appearance. (Guardian)
Louis van Gaal admits his first six months in charge of Manchester United have not come up to scratch. (Manchester Evening News)
Hull City defender Harry Maguire, 21, has set his sights on becoming a Premier League regular in 2015 as he aims to kick-start a frustrating first season at the club. (Hull Daily Mail)
Peter Pannu has been re-elected to the board of Birmingham City's parent company. (Birmingham Mail)
Talks are at an advanced stage over a possible takeover of Sheffield Wednesday by a group of Thai investors. (Yorkshire Post)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 27, gave his Twitter followers a glimpse of the good life on Tuesday, posting an image of him boarding what looks like a private plane from a luxurious and sunny location.
QPR's Charlie Austin and Hull City's Curtis Davies seemed astonished at a video of Tottenham's incoming signing Deandre Yedelin showcasing incredible pace.
AND FINALLY...
Marco Verratti has revealed his Paris St-Germain team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 33, settled nerves during their 2012-13 title run-in by proclaiming they should put their faith in him as he is Jesus. (FourFourTwo)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Jacob Steinberg
Manchester City have decided that the farce of Swansea City being allowed to have a good player has gone on long enough and will put a stop to this wanton tomfoolery, which will only result in the end of the world as we know it if it is allowed to continue, by signing Wilfried Bony for £30m. Swansea have had their fun and we’ve all had a great laugh but enough is enough. Let’s just hope they haven’t developed any ideas above their station.
Steven Gerrard, it says here, has jetted off to Los Angeles with a view to sealing his move to LA Galaxy from Liverpool. Maybe, or perhaps he’s going to try his luck in Hollywood. He’s always seemed the artistic type, after all, and he does have a good sense of drama. Laugh all you want but the Mill’s money is on Gerrard having a walk-on part in the next Transformers movie. Liverpool, meanwhile, are moving on and have stolen a march on Internazionale in the race to sign Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri, theirs for £10m.
This morning, Arsène Wenger looked at his squad and saw that he had only three centre-backs. Then he looked over at West Ham and saw that Winston Reid could be available for £3m. Then he looked back at his three defenders. Then he looked back at Reid. Then back at his defenders. Then back at Reid. Should he? Shouldn’t he? Would £3m on a centre-back be an extravagance? Or should he save his money, stick with what he has and pray that Laurent Koscielny’s Achilles doesn’t fall off? Ooohhhh, he just can’t make up his mind. It’s a conundrum! What to do, what to do? Maybe just sign a creative midfielder instead and hope for the best.
West Ham will console themselves about losing Reid by signing the Atlético Madrid midfielder, Mario Suárez, while Leicester City are closing in on the Croatia striker, Andrej Kramaric.
Chelsea won’t be impressed by that, or by news that Roma want Petr Cech. But at least they’ve identified a replacement for Didier Drogba: Internazionale’s Mauro Icardi.
West Bromwich Albion have offered Saido Berahino to Tottenham Hotspur. Great news! But there’s a catch. West Brom, the cheeky buggers, want Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend in return. It promises to be an emotional few weeks at White Hart Lane, what with Besiktas targeting Younès Kaboul as well.
Real Madrid are going to sign Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard. Good for them.
Guardian
Romelu Lukaku saves Everton with injury-time equaliser against West Ham
Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
It may prove a turning point or merely a temporary reprieve, but Romelu Lukaku’s 91st-minute equaliser against West Ham United felt like victory to Roberto Martínez. With good reason. Everton were staring at a potent combination of an eighth defeat in 10 matches, an early Cup exit and another round of scrutiny on their drained manager and then his £28m record signing halted the rot. “It would have been a horrendous setback but the players showed they are ready to fight for everything,” said a relieved Everton manager.
Martínez invested the bulk of Everton’s summer budget on the Belgium international and was repaid when he needed it most, Lukaku capping arguably his best performance of the season by cancelling out James Collins’ commanding header. The former Chelsea striker has scored in his past four appearances against West Ham. “A rash moment cost us the victory,” lamented Sam Allardyce. “Winston Reid and Joey O’Brien dived in and that damned man scored against us again. As he always does.”
By comparison with last season, Everton’s flaws were again glaring and the panic that spread around Goodison Park following Lukaku’s leveller betrayed the lack of confidence in the team. By comparison with recent displays, however, and the four consecutive league defeats that have soured Everton’s season, the fight and the first-half creativity was a reassuring step forward for Martínez. This was not a side refusing to play for the manager.
The Everton manager, who looks gaunt and shattered after a dreadful festive period, conceded: “We are still in a very bad run and need to turn it around. But this goal can have a huge effect. We finally got the reward our efforts deserved and that has been rare in the last few games.”
The home side created the clearer chances but with West Ham pushing for victory throughout and Stewart Downing often dictating play from central midfield, the teams produced an open, flowing cup tie. Injuries to Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, who will miss the Africa Cup of Nations with a back injury, deprived Allardyce’s team of the presence to punish a nervous Everton defence. Instead, in Lukaku, it was Everton who had a powerful centre-forward able to unsettle defenders and bring others into play.
Lukaku’s performance was a reminder of his importance to how Martínez wants his team to play as he tested Adrián in the West Ham goal from distance, drove at defenders all night and displayed the touch and creativity that have been lacking from his game too often this season. “He has trained well all week with a specific target – to impose himself and his penetrating runs on the opposition,” said Martínez. “His attitude was perfect.”
Both sides threatened before the interval but Everton had the clearer openings through Lukaku and Steven Naismith, the pair just missing Adrián’s left-hand post. They continued to trade shots after the restart, Kevin Mirallas lobbing over from Naismith’s flick-on and Carl Jenkinson forcing Joel Robles to save at his near post. Downing went close with a right-foot drive that deflected out for a corner off the head of Sylvain Distin. It was returned with devastating effect. Morgan Amalfitano crossed to the near post and Collins, having lost Distin at the start of his run from the penalty spot, arrived in-between Naismith and Muhamed Besic to steer a bullet header beyond Robles.
West Ham almost doubled their advantage from another corner seconds later. This time, from the left, the visitors worked the ball short to Mark Noble who floated an inviting cross on to the head of Enner Valencia. Robles thwarted the Ecuador striker at point-blank range. “He should have scored and it would have been too much for Everton to come back from that,” said Allardyce, who will have Alex Song available for next Tuesday’s replay after the midfielder announced his retirement from international duty with Cameroon on Tuesday. Martínez concurred. “That save could be a big turning point in our season,” he said.
The Everton response was led, inevitably, by Lukaku. But with quality in short supply around him, his tireless efforts appeared to be in vain until stoppage time. The substitute Aiden McGeady released Bryan Oviedo down the left and the Costa Rican’s cross fell to the man of the match who made no mistake at the back post, sparking a jubilant celebration from his manager on the touchline.
Telegraph
Everton 1 West Ham United 1, match report: Romelu Lukaku pounces to save Roberto Martinez with leveller
Everton v West Ham, FA Cup third round – Romelu Lukaku rescues Roberto Martínez's FA Cup dream with late equaliser at Goodison Park
By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, at Goodison Park
If Everton are to emerge from this slump that has seen them win only one game in nine, they need to reproduce the urgency of the last six minutes here, a late show that brought an equaliser from Romelu Lukaku, an FA Cup third-round replay at Upton Park next Tuesday and spared Roberto Martínez from a painful inquest. The unrestrained way the Everton manager punched the air when Lukaku scored highlighted his relief and the pressure he has been under.
Everton have some good players but they need to play with more pace and belief. When James Collins headed in after 55 minutes, exploiting wretched Everton defending, Martínez’s side were staring into the grim face of adversity and an unforgiving fans’ response. Having lost the previous four games, Martínez had already known the pressure was on, and the number of empty seats indicated some dissatisfaction with the team’s form as well as the additional cost.
Only late on when they finally rallied did Everton resemble a more assertive unit, more like the confident team of last season. Martínez kept sending on attackers, and by the final few minutes Everton had Lukaku, Samuel Eto’o, Steven Naismith, Aiden McGeady and Ross Barkley hammering at West Ham’s back door. Everton were helped by West Ham sitting off, and a couple of defensive substitutions from Sam Allardyce, namely Diego Poyet and Joey O’Brien (for Matt Jarvis and Morgan Amalfitano respectively) that further invited Everton on, bringing that Lukaku goal.
West Ham returned south frustrated, having largely controlled the game with Collins and Winston Reid excellent in defence and Stewart Downing and Mark Noble running midfield. They have received the fillip that Alex Song has retired from international football.
It shows how far West Ham have developed under Allardyce that they were disappointed by the result. A combination of good signings, the liberation of Downing in the centre, the addition of Teddy Sheringham as attacking coach and Allardyce’s willingness to play a more expansive style – in keeping with the Academy tradition – has lifted the mood at West Ham, although they could do with a vow of Twitter silence from the son of the co-chairman David Sullivan. West Ham, and particularly those so closely associated with the club, need to represent a united front.
West Ham will expect to complete the job in the return. Everton still have many issues to sort out, starting with Barkley. There was frustration among many home supporters at seeing Barkley stationed on the left at the start, rather than in a central position where he can cause more damage. Yet he was soon moving inside, highlighting his rich promise, teasing a great ball through to Naismith.
Barkley plays a game of risk, occasionally losing possession, but the potential rewards are game-changing. Martínez has to believe in Barkley more, has to build around his special talents. Barkley also has to develop further.
Barkley brings an urgency to the game that Everton lacked. They were giving Downing, in particular, too much space, and the former Liverpool winger was soon controlling central midfield. From one move begun by Downing, Noble slipped the ball through to Amalfitano, whose shot deflected wide off Sylvain Distin.
West Ham were dominating possession, building moves through Downing, and Matt Jarvis went close with a flick from Carl Jenkinson’s cross. West Ham were without Andy Carroll, who was injured in training, and Diafra Sakho, who had joined up with Senegal where his back condition will be assessed. This left Enner Valencia with the task of trying to elude Distin and Phil Jagielka, and he struggled in the first half.
Everton did break out, growing into the first half. From a Seamus Coleman throw-in, Lukaku cut inside from the right, unleashing a shot that Adrian gathered at the second attempt and with Kevin Mirallas lurking.
After 20 minutes, Everton really raised their tempo. Barkley was getting on the ball more, lifting home spirits, delivering passes through the visitors’ defence, including a gem to release Naismith, who shot wide. After 25 minutes, Barkley picked out Lukaku, whose shot also flew wide.
Goodison loved it when Barkley picked up the ball deep and flew forward, outpacing Collins. He saw Lukaku’s run and tried to find him but Reid intervened. As the half closed, Lukaku dispatched a shot that was too meaty for Adrian. The ball bounced free and Reid cleared as Barkley threatened.
Distin was late out for the second half and it almost echoed a certain tardiness in a defence that has laboured of late. Jenkinson charged through but was denied by Joel Robles. Everton’s keeper was beaten after 55 minutes, however. Distin initially appeared to be close to Collins, yet he failed to respond to the defender’s run to the near post, arrowing towards the ball which Amalfitano had lifted over Muhamed Besic.
Naismith tried to reach the ball but it was weighted perfectly for Collins, a classic Allardyce training-ground routine, and Robles had no chance with the header. This was West Ham’s 12th corner, so Everton should have been prepared enough. The lack of a defender on the post also allowed Collins’s header to travel unimpeded into the net.
West Ham hunted a second. Downing swept in a cross from the left, a perfect delivery that was met by Valencia but he placed his header straight at Robles, who pushed the ball over.
With concern simmering in the stands, Martínez made his first move after 65 minutes, sending on Samuel Eto’o for Mirallas and the new man was swiftly in Taylor’s book for an innocuous challenge on Noble. Five minutes later, Martínez sent on John Stones for only his second appearance since sustaining an ankle injury in October.
Martínez made his final change, sending on McGeady and withdrawing Besic, an attacker replacing a holding midfielder. Sighs continued to rumble around Goodison, particularly when Lukaku blazed over.
But just as a few more Everton fans were leaving, the hosts’ late pressure paid off. Bryan Oviedo crossed from the left and Lukaku controlled it well, and then neatly propelled it past Reid and Adrian and into the net – to the delight and relief of Martínez.
Scottish Mail
Stephen Hendrie 'dreaming' of Premier League as Hamilton Academic teenager insists he is ready for big move
Stephen Hendrie has made more than 100 appearances for Hamilton
The 19-year-old left back has been linked with West Ham and Celtic
Hendrie said his dream is to play at the highest level possible
Hamilton say they won't stand in Hendrie's way if acceptable offer is made
By Brian Marjoribanks For The Scottish Daily Mail
As a boyhood Celtic fan and a huge admirer of the English Premier League, Stephen Hendrie could soon face a dilemma if interest in the left-back solidifies into concrete bids.
As Sportmail revealed recently, Hamilton chairman Les Gray is bracing himself for a £2million offer from West Ham for the latest gem off the New Douglas Park production line.
And on Sunday, Celtic joined the long list of clubs watching the gifted teenager when Ronny Deila’s assistant John Collins scouted Hendrie during Accies’ 1-0 win at St Johnstone.
Stephen Hendrie has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs as well as Celtic
If the 19-year old would find it difficult choosing between potential suitors in the east end of London and Glasgow, however, he is more clear-cut on other issues.
He has no doubt in his mind that he is old enough to make the next big step in his career, provided the right bid is received by the New Douglas Park club.
‘I’m 20 next week,’ said Hendrie, who has helped Hamilton into third in the Scottish Premiership but is out of contract at the end of the season.
‘I don’t think that’s too young or too old to move from Hamilton.
‘I’m a Celtic fan and obviously the (English) Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world.
‘That’s my dream - you want to reach as high a level as you can and if I can get to the Premier League that would be brilliant.
‘But the Accies would need to see if it’s the right offer. If it is, they say they’ll never stand in anybody’s way. They are a great club like that. If they accepted it, there is not much I could do.
‘It’s good massive clubs are getting mentioned. But I just want to get my head down and keep doing well.
‘Just now, the Accies are flying and I’m loving every minute of it. We just want to finish as high as we can.’
With over 100 first-team appearances for Accies before the age of 20, Hendrie is following a similar path tread by James McArthur and James McCarthy. Both gained experience at Accies before finding fame and fortune down south as FA Cup winners with Wigan before moving to Crystal Palace and Everton, respectively.
Accies manager Alex Neil has long stated nothing would please him more than to see the next generation of gems in Lanarkshire win a life-changing big-money move.
But he has warned Hendrie and Scottish Premiership leading scorer Tony Andreu that if they get distracted by transfer speculation this month they risk their starting places.
‘The boys all know that, if they continue to do well here, if something does crop up, we won’t stand in their way,’ said Neil.
‘But if they take their eye off the ball and think they will get their move without anything happening then they could find themselves out the team and that move will quickly disappear.
‘But they are all completely focused. Not one of them has mentioned a single thing about transfers.
‘We’ve had no contact at all so far for any of our players.
‘It’s still early days in January but most clubs, unless they are prepared to pay top dollar, will wait and try and get their targets on the cheap.
‘We don’t want to sell anyone but at the same time we are a selling club. And this club is good at making sure it gets the maximum for anybody moving on.
‘If we receive a deal which is right for the player and the club, we won’t stand in their way. But no one will be leaving here on the cheap.’
Should Accies swell their coffers this month, their tried-and-trusted youth development-focused business model will remain.
Mail
Alex Song quits international football in boost for West Ham as Cameroon ace will no longer leave for Africa Cup of Nations
Alex Song has not played for his country since being sent off against Croatia in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
Song has starred in midfield for West Ham this Premier League season
Cameroonian signed for West Ham on season-long loan from Barcelona
By Joe Bernstein
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce received a huge boost on Tuesday night when influential midfielder Alex Song announced his international retirement, meaning he will be available to play in Barclays Premier League and FA Cup matches for his club this month rather than participating in the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.
Allardyce was at Goodison Park speaking about his side's 1-1 FA Cup third-round draw against Everton when news broke that Song had told his national association that he didn't want to play for them any more.
The Hammers manager had to choose his words carefully so that he or West Ham couldn't be deemed by FIFA to be putting any pressure on the player but he will be delighted at the prospect of Song returning home from Cameroon in time for their match against Swansea on Saturday.
Allardyce said: 'Alex is doing his own talking over there in terms of what they want from him and what is expected of him.
'He is going to make a decision with the manager or has made a decision with the manager on what the situation is.'
Song, 27, then clarified the situation by announcing on Instagram: 'I have taken the decision to retire from International football.'
The Barcelona midfielder, on loan at Upton Park, was disappointed to be originally left out of the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations even though they then tried to make a U-turn.
'Since the World Cup in the summer and my subsequent exclusion from the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations I have taken the decision to retire from international football,' he said.
'It is true that there were some discussions of late to include me in the squad for this tournament but I feel after a lot of careful thought and numerous discussions with my family this (international retirement) is the right decision.
'My love for my country will never change but I want to take time to focus purely on domestic football and start to rebuild my career at West Ham United. I wish Cameroon all the best and the team will always be in my heart.'
It is great news for Allardyce who face Swansea, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League and Everton in an FA Cup replay while the Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Equatorial Guinea. He is already without midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate who will represent Senegal.
The Senegal FA have accepted striker Diafra Sakho can't go because of a back injury that Allardyce expects to keep him out for several weeks.
Alladyce felt his side were unlucky not to progress at Goodison having taken a second-half lead through James Collins but for Everton boss Roberto Martinez, the injury-time equaliser by Romelu Lukaku was a potentially season-defining moment after a run of four defeats.
'It was real satisfaction rather than relief,' he said. 'We could have felt sorry for ourselves but we kept the right attitude and frame of mind. It could create a snowball reaction because a result like this gives you confidence. It felt like a win and the finish and contribution from Rom (Lukaku) was very good.'
Allardyce has seen Lukaku score in four successive games against his team. 'It is always seems to be him,' grimaced the Hammers boss after the Belgian had turned in Bryan Oviedo's cross.
'But we should have scored at 1-0. Enner Valencia had a chance that players of his quality normally score.'
Mail
West Ham set to rival AC Milan to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez
Suarez, 27, wanted as short-term option to replace Cameroon's Alex Song
But Song's shock decision to retire from international football could have impact on whether West Ham continue to explore move
Italian giants AC Milan are also interested in signing midfielder Suarez
By Simon Jones
West Ham are showing an interest in Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez.
The 27-year-old had been lined up as a short-term option to replace Alex Song, who was expected to line up for Cameroon at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
But Song's shock decision to retire from international football could have a bearing on West Ham's decision process.
West Ham however, will face competition from AC Milan, who are also exploring the option of taking Suarez on loan.
Mario Suarez, in action for Atletico Madrid, is being pursued by West Ham and Italian giants AC Milan
Atletico Madrid midfielder Suarez was being considered as a short-term option to replace Alex Song
Manager Sam Allardyce meanwhile, will take a £7million offer for Winston Reid in this window should clubs come forward.
Allardyce has admitted that Reid has 'no future' at West Ham and expects the defender to leave when his contract ends in the summer.
Reid has refused to sign a new deal with the east London club and it now appears his five-year stay will come to an end on June 30 when his contract expires.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are monitoring the situation.
