Roeder: Hands off Defoe

Despite Roeder's insistence today, if a deal did take place it could be completed when the Old Trafford club return from their tour of the United States later this week.

The loss of Defoe would compound Roeder's problems as he is already desperately seeking a striker to replace Frederic Kanoute for Saturday's Division One game at Preston.

The sale of £4.5m-rated Kanoute to Spurs, following the departure of Les Ferdinand, would leave West Ham short up front as they launch their bid for a quick return to the Premiership.

Roeder's problems are compounded by a lack of cash and it is almost certain that he will have to settle for a loan deal.

Last week he paid Wimbledon £285,000 for striker Connolly and yesterday completed the signing of 37-year-old former England midfielder Robert Lee, who has been training at West Ham for a month after spending last season with Derby.

Kanoute is expected to complete his move to Spurs today in a player-plus-cash deal involving Matthew Etherington. A wide midfielder valued at around £1m, Etherington is a timely signing following Trevor Sinclair's move to Manchester City.

"I'm delighted to get a player of his quality and potential," said Roeder. "He'll give us width and pace and I expect him to be playing regularly this season."

Truro-born Etherington, an England Under-21 international, joined Spurs from Peterborough three years ago and made 16 first team starts last season.

Kanoute, 26 next month, is the third big-name player to leave Upton Park in the last fortnight as West Ham try to trim their wage bill following relegation. The sale of Johnson to Chelsea, Sinclair and Kanoute will raise about £12m and there could be further sales.

Roeder is expected to have a vastly reduced squad for his promotion campaign and the shortage of players is not helped by injury worries. Club captain Steve Lomas will miss the game at Preston with an ankle injury and doubts remain over the fitness of Michael Carrick, Rufus Brevett and Don Hutchison.

There will certainly be no place in the side for Sebastien Schemmel, the French full-back who has just been fined the maximum two weeks' wages for publicly criticising Roeder.

Schemmel blamed Roeder and his coaching staff for West Ham's relegation last season and claimed that regaining a place among the elite would be very difficult because of the way "the manager and staff are going about it."

His outburst has cost him at least £25,000 and may seriously jeopardise his long term future at the club.

"His comments were disgraceful and completely unacceptable," said the West Ham manager. "My door is always open to the players. If they have anything to discuss they know they can talk to me. This sort of thing is unhelpful at any time, but particularly so just before the start of a new season."