Hammers accept Anton bid

Ferdinand: Bid accepted

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has confirmed Sunderland's bid for Anton Ferdinand has been accepted by the club's board.

Ferdinand, who was absent from West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, is currently on the sidelines recovering from a hamstring injury.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane stated he was close to adding two new players to his squad in the next week, one of them is believed to be West Ham stopper Ferdinand.

Curbishley has now stated that with Ferdinand reluctant to renegotiate terms on a new deal the board have decided it is in the club's best interests if the 23-year-old departs.

Bid accepted

"The board have accepted the bid," Curbishley said of the deal which is believed to be in the £8million region.

"Anton has not renegotiated his contract, and the decision was taken out of my hands.

"I don't know where Anton is in terms of signing for Sunderland but once the club accept the bid, it moves on."