Now City join the race for McClaren

Ken Dyer13 April 2012

Manchester City have joined the race to appoint Manchester United coach Steve McClaren as manager.

That complicates the position of West Ham, who were today given official permission by Manchester United to approach McClaren.

West Ham want McClaren to succeed Harry Redknapp and are hopeful of finalising the deal by Thursday.

But Manchester City, who sacked Joe Royle yesterday, also want the talented young coach.

Another option could be George Graham, who was sacked by Tottenham in March and has indicated that he is interested in the Maine Road job. Graham told Sky Sports.com: "You never point at one particular club and say I would like to go there but I want to win things and if there is a chance of doing that I would be interested."

McClaren became favourite to take over at West Ham because they did not receive any indication from Charlton's Alan Curbishley that he would take the job.

West Ham managing director Paul Aldridge said today: "Steve is very confident that he can make that step up from coach to manager and we have no doubts, either.

"We would be naive not to take his lack of managerial experience into consideration but he has been number two at the biggest club in the world, he is a very intelligent man and everywhere you go you get glowing reports about him.

"Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson only yesterday spoke very highly of him and we had a very enjoyable meeting with him."

Aldridge described that meeting as "preliminary" but admitted they hoped to conclude a deal sooner rather than later, and sooner than the "few weeks" McClaren gave himself to make a decision.

"Time is not the main constraint for us. The only constraint is that we get it right," Aldridge said. "But I think it will happen quicker than that or it won't happen."

McClaren, who is due to go on holiday at the weekend, has talked to officials at Old Trafford but they refused to give him any assurances about what his position will be when Ferguson retires as United manager at the end of next season.

If McClaren opts for West Ham, his first job would be to talk to Stuart Pearce, who has delayed signing a new contract until Redknapp's replacement has been appointed.

Pearce, 39, said: "I think they are hoping to appoint someone this week and the sooner the better from the club's point of view. My future will all depend who is given the job.

"I had agreed to stay on with Harry a couple of weeks ago. But football changes so quickly and things are up in the air for me again."

Meanwhile, West Ham are resigned to losing Frank Lampard, whose departure has seemed inevitable since the sacking of his father, Frank Lampard Snr, and uncle, Redknapp.

Although Lampard has been linked with a move to Leeds, there will need to be some negotiating on the transfer fee as Leeds feel West Ham's £13 million valuation of the 22-year-old midfielder is too high.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale said today: "We will not be making a bid in double figures for Frank Lampard.

"David O'Leary has given me his shopping list of names he would like to bring to the club and I will now work through the summer in a bid to get them for him."

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