Neill looking for new club after rejecting Hammers

Lucas Neill is looking for a new club after turning down an offer of a contract extension from West Ham, the London club confirmed on Thursday.

The Australian defender is a free agent following the expiry of his current deal at West Ham and has opted to pursue “other opportunities”, the club said.

Neill, 31, joined the Hammers from Blackburn in January 2007 after turning down the opportunity to join Liverpool, a decision that prompted accusations that he had put financial gain ahead of the chance of silverware.

Manchester City are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing the fullback, who is part of a large group of players leaving West Ham this summer.

Also on their way out are Diego Tristan, Lee Bowyer, Walter Lopez, Kyel Reid, Tony Stokes and Jimmy Walker while the loans of Jan Lastuvka, Radoslav Kovac and David Di Michele have ended and will not be renewed.

Calum Davenport and Julien Faubert, whose respective loan spells at Sunderland and Real Madrid have ended, will return to the club which finished ninth in the Premier League following the arrival of Gianfranco Zola as manager.