No, you didn't read that wrong. It's come from way out of left field, but West Ham United has stepped forward as the mysterious English club that gained the signature of Corinthians players Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, two of Argentina's most important young players. The transfer coup is likely to go down as one of the most surprising ever in Premiership history. Tiny West Ham was able to stave off the likes of AC Milan, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Manchester United in the race to sign the coveted pair. The Guardian says West Ham could only afford a year-long loan deal as both players were expected to carry price tags in excess of $30 million each, although the moves could become permanent if all sides agree on a price at the end of the season. It's a sensational move from the standpoint that a pair of world-class players have rejected a host of world-class clubs to join an English club that only just returned to the Premiership last season. It's also more than a little interesting that Media Sports Investment, the company that controls Corinthians, the club where both players come from, has been tied to West Ham, last year expressing an interest in taking over the club. MSI orchestrated the $20 million transfer of Tevez from Boca Juniors to Corinthians in 2004. Read the original story...