Just read a piece in the Daily Mail where Micah Richards has said West Ham wanted him when diMatteo was their manager. Di Matteo thought Richards was a good influence in the dressing room and wasn't prepared to let him go. This despite Richards himself admitting he would struggle for fitness. Elsewhere the piece states we were prepared to DOUBLE his Villa salary.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... -2016.html