Hammers enter race to sign Benni

The South Africa international bagged 18 goals in the Premier League last season, immediately prompting a failed bid from Chelsea for the 29-year-old. Blackburn chief Mark Hughes has insisted throughout that McCarthy will be lining up in a Rovers shirt again at the start of next season, but the Hammers have money to burn courtesy of owner Eggert Magnusson. The former Porto frontman moved to Ewood Park for a bargain £2.5million last summer but is probably now valued at four times that amount, although whether that will be enough for Hughes' head to turn remains to be seen.