Never Ether

West Ham have rejected a £3m bid from Wigan for Matthew Etherington, according to the Independent.

The bid - received earlier today - was instantly dismissed by the Hammers, who are less than willing to do business with the Latics given the recent comments and threats of litigation made by Chairman Dave Whelan.

Winger Etherington is one of a number of players destined for the chop this summer as Alan Curbishley prepares to shuffle the pack in preparation for the 2007/08 season.

Others likely to be moving elsewhere include John Paintsil, Tye Mears, Carlton Cole and Marlon Harewood, who is interesting a number of Premier League and Championship clubs. 41-year-old Teddy Sheringham has already been released.

* The Indy also claim that Yossi Benayoun has agreed to extend his time at West Ham by signing a bumper new deal.

Benayoun's existing contract has two years left to run, and he rejected a new deal earlier this year after Kia Joorabchian's bid to buy the Hammers ended in failure.

But the Israeli international captain is thought to have had a change of heart since the Hammers avoided relegation last weekend.