SOCCER: West Ham have accepted a bid from Manchester City for striker Craig Bellamy. The Wales striker has been given permission to speak to City boss Mark Hughes after the Blues' bid was accepted, with an equal offer from Tottenham turned down.
Bellamy, 29, demanded a transfer to Spurs on Friday but his club were unwilling to sell to their rivals and also had private concerns over how their striker's head was turned.
The Hammers received bids of around £14million for their Wales international but only City's offer was accepted and Bellamy is now expected to complete a medical.
Bellamy was left out of the Hammers squad which defeated Fulham on Sunday, with manager Gianfranco Zola stating the player was "not in the right frame of mind".
Bellamy was offered a fresh contract last week in a bid to keep him at Upton Park but he turned the deal down and was not in the squad for the Barclays Premier League win over Fulham.
Hammers fans turned on Bellamy during the 3-1 victory, while Spurs fans also used internet forums to protest against signing the striker.
City have already had three separate bids for Bellamy turned down, and it was thought the much-travelled striker would have preferred to join Spurs.
And, with the Hammers refusing to do business with their London rivals, it appears Bellamy has accepted the lure of life at Eastlands.
Redknapp could still sign Wilson Palacios from Wigan, with suggestions that City would drop their interest in the Honduras midfielder after a breakthrough with Bellamy.
Hughes knows Bellamy well, both with Wales and at Blackburn, and has never had a problem with the player's combustible temperament.
It is not expected there will be any problem with the player's medical, and personal terms should be a formality too, given the amount of money City have at their disposal.
It seems that Bellamy will not be the only new arrival at City this week, either, as Holland midfielder Nigel de Jong should complete his big-money move from Hamburg.
Both men are expected to be in Hughes' squad for the January 28 meeting with Newcastle.
Whether Kaka is also in it remains to be seen.
