West Ham yen for Miyamoto

J-League side Gamba Osaka have seen international defender Tsunejasu Miyamaoto quit the club at the end of his contract and go into talks with West Ham.

The English club tried to sign the 23 year old in September but Osaka rejected their cash offer only to see Miyamoto start talks with thwe Premiership side now his contract is over.

Miyamoto could become the first Japanese player in the English top division and his arrival could provoke a major marketing drive by the London club. Japanese stars abroad are followed with intense interest by fans over television and the internet and the merchandising potential for the first English club to make an impression on the Asian football market in this way could see healthy dividends through shirt sales and television deals.

Miyamoto made his international debut lat June in a Kirin Cup match against Bolivia and coach Philippe Troussier took him to the Olympics last year.