Aston Villa man rejects West Ham as Leeds hover

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
3:32 PM

Transfer news: Sam Allardyce today revealed West Ham’s plans to bring in left-back Stephen Warnock from Aston Villa have been derailed, as the 31-year-old now looks set to join Leeds instead.

The West Ham boss has been desperate to strengthen his defence this January, and wanted Warnock to follow Emanuel Pogatetz’s arrival.

“Stephen we thought was a goer yesterday, but we had another club in the Championship make him a longer-term offer, which he has accepted,” said Allardyce.

“Ours was more a short-term offer with a view to a further and longer deal, but at the end of the day he chose the more secure one.

“That was a lot of hard work which went to waste yet again. You constantly waste your time because 99% of the time you don’t get what you want.

“We have been looking for a defender since late December and it has taken until this week to get Emanuel Pogatetz in.”