McCarthy on verge of West Ham switch
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Striker Benni McCarthy's days at Blackburn are numbered after the player went missing from training for two days seemingly in a bid to manufacture a transfer to West Ham.
Rovers last night confirmed they had received a written bid for the South Africa international from the Hammers and were today considering their options.
Paramount to their decision will be whether boss Sam Allardyce can find a replacement before the transfer window closes on Monday.
It is likely the manager will have someone in mind as earlier this month he said the 32-year-old could leave providing he could bring in adequate cover.
Allardyce has recently been linked with a move for former Blackburn trainee James Beattie, who has dropped down the pecking order at Stoke.
And despite the Rovers boss insisting he would take a hard line with McCarthy should his move not materialise before the window closes, it is highly unlikely the player will still be at the club this time next week.
"We have said all along that we will listen to offers, but only agree to sell if both the commercial and football reasons satisfy Blackburn Rovers. That situation remains unchanged," said Allardyce.
"We are very disappointed with Benni's non-appearance for training and will deal with it separately should he remain here after the transfer window has closed."
Struggling West Ham are in the market for a high-profile striker having gone public with their interest in former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy.
New co-owner David Sullivan said the debt-ridden club were prepared to pay the Real Madrid forward £100,000 a week but the Dutchman snubbed them for German side Hamburg.
McCarthy, however, is a shadow of the player who burst on to the Premier League scene in the 2006/7 season scoring 24 goals.
He never recaptured that form and after returns of 11 and 13 in subsequent campaigns has struggled this season.
The former Porto forward has scored just once in 14 Premier League appearances, only seven of which have been starts.
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