TRANSFER NEWS:West Ham winger Matthew Etherington is bound for Stoke in a deal believed to be worth £3million. Portsmouth have had a bid for former midfielder Gary O'Neil rejected by Middlesbrough, while Ricky Sbragia is refusing to sell anyone a Sunderland striker.
Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola looks to trim his squad and more departures look likely with midfielder Lee Bowyerin talks with Birmingham, defender Calum Davenportbeing pursued by Bolton and forward Luis Boa Mortereportedly a target for Hull.
"We are trying to create a situation where everybody is happy. I said from the first day, this team has a big squad when everyone is fit," said Zola. "I don't want to have players who train and are not playing. I want to have a situation where everyone can get a game, so some players might have to go."
Etherington came off the bench in last weekend's FA Cup win against Barnsley but has not featured in the league for West Ham since mid-November.
Zola said: "We chose to do the best for all parties involved. It is good for him. He will be playing regularly. We left on very good terms. We wish him all the best. He is a player we want to do well.
"(Davenport) has had an offer from a club. Now it is down to him to decide whether it is good enough.
"Lee Bowyer spoke to a club and we will see. He is not playing enough in this club and he may want to go and play some more football. We will see what happens. If he decides to stay we will be very happy to keep him."
Middlesbroughhave turned down a bid of £4.5million from Portsmouthfor midfielder Gary O'Neil. The 25-year-old moved to the Riverside from Portsmouth in August 2007 after making almost 200 appearances for the Fratton Park club.
O'Neil, a former England Under-21 captain, has been linked with a return to the south coast and Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie told the club's official website: "We made what we thought to be a good offer for Gary but unfortunately it was declined and we will not be increasing our bid.
"Gary is a player that (manager) Tony (Adams) and the team know well having been here since he was a youngster.
"He would have been a good addition to the squad."
The offer for O'Neil adds to an already difficult week for the Teeside club who have already fended off attention for England winger Stewart Downing, for whom Tottenhamhad two bids rejected.
Sunderlandmanager Ricky Sbragiahas insisted he has no intention of allowing frontmen El-Hadji Diouf, Michael Chopra and David Healyleave Wearside.
Sam Allardyce, now in charge at Blackburn, worked with Senegal international Diouf during his time at Bolton and has been linked with a £2million swoop.
Diouf's recent comments have sent out mixed messages over his future, but Sbragia said today: "I have spoken to him in the last couple of days and he seems happy - they all seem happy if they are playing football, that's the important thing about it.
"Chopra will not be moving at all. I need four strikers and he is going to be one of the four," he said, before insisting 'fifth striker' Healy was also in his plans.
"I spoke to David about three weeks ago and he is definitely part of the plan.
"He has been excellent, his attitude has been fantastic and we need strikers."
