Gianfranco Zola has hit out at former team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen, accusing him of a lack of respect.
Hammers boss believes former team-mate did not act with respect
Gianfranco Zola has hit out at former team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen, accusing him of a lack of respect.
The West Ham boss thought he had secured the 31-year-old's signature this week but Spurs swooped late to sign the player.
Gudjohnsen is believed to have agreed terms on a loan move to Upton Park and undergone a medical, and Zola is upset by the actions of his former team-mate, whom he played alongside between 2000 and 2003 at Chelsea.
Zola said: "I am disappointed with Spurs and disappointed with Gudjohnsen. I was expecting good behaviour from him.
"They keep telling me that football has got like this right now and I keep saying that when I'm dealing with people, I always expect for the people that I have got in front me to behave in a certain way - with respect.
"Okay, that wasn't the case here. But we move on. We have a lot of things to achieve here this season and we can still achieve them anyway."
Priority
Zola has made the signing of at least one striker his priority as the January transfer window draws to a close.
He says the club are closing in on signing Benni McCarthy from Blackburn, but remained tight-lipped on other targets, such as Egypt striker Mido.
Commenting on the move for McCarthy, Zola said: "The deal is not done yet but it's very close.
"He is a player who will fit in with our philosophy very much. Hopefully it will be all right."
He added: "Mido and others are names that are circulating but as far as I'm concerned, Benni is the only one close to us.
"He's the only one I want to talk about. I am sure the club will be linked to many names but Benni is the real target for us."
Stability
The Hammers have lost just one of their last five league games to move up to fifth from bottom in the top-flight and Zola believes the club are now getting stability both on and off the pitch after the takeover by David Sullivan and David Gold.
He added: "This team is getting a kind of possessiveness and we are getting stability on and off the pitch, which is good news.
"The owners have their own mentality, their own way of working, but they are respecting my wishes.
"They are working close to me and that is the best way. We're all working to make this club successful."
Zola also confirmed forward Luis Jimenez is set to leave the club and return to Italian football.
