West Ham close in on Benjani

By Edward Marange (Sports Editor)

English premiership side West Ham United are closing in on buying Zimbabwe and Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

Fresh from being taken over by David Gold and David Sullivan last week the Hammers have been in the hunt for top quality strikers to boost their fight against possible relegation.

The UK Daily Mail newspaper reports that in addition to signing Benjani, West Ham will also swoop for Blackburn and South African striker Benni McCarthy in a £2,5 million deal.

Benjani however will not be able to sign for the Hammers until after Manchester City’s Carling Cup tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford this Wednesday.

Two possible obstacles remain though for any club interested in Benjani.

First the striker has himself expressed an interest in remaining at Eastland’s and fighting for his place and secondly the recent injury to Roque Santa Cruz will mean manager Roberto Mancini might want to hold on to the Zimbabwean.