Kanoute stays, insists Roeder

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder today discounted speculation that he is prepared to let French striker Frederic Kanoute go to Aston Villa for £10 million.

Villa are already believed to have made a tentative offer for Kanoute and would allow England goalkeeper David James to go to Upton Park as part of the deal.

Roeder, appointed earlier this month as successor to Harry Redknapp, said today however that he has no intention of letting the former Lyon player go, to Villa or anywhere else.

"I am looking forward to working with Freddie during pre-season," said Roeder today, "and I can emphasise right from the outset that he is not available.

"Freddie is bound to attract interest because he proved last season what a good player he is. Now I am relishing the chance to help improve him even more and perhaps find someone to play up the middle with him, from either within the club or outside."

Roeder remains interested in Welwyn-born James but only in a cash deal. West Ham face competition however from several other top clubs, including Martin O'Neill's Celtic.

Roeder is also keeping tabs on Coventry's Swedish international goalkeeper Magnus Hedman, who is available.

The new West Ham manager also underlined that Paolo Di Canio remains an integral part of his plans for next season, despite stories that he was preparing to unload the volatile Italian striker, who has been publicly critical of Roeder's appointment.

"I spent an hour on the telephone listening to Paolo," said Roeder, "and he was very positive. I have seen what he has had to say but he certainly wasn't negative when he spoke with me. Once again I am looking forward to having Paolo back here and working with him."

One transfer likely to go through before the end of the week is defender Sebastien Schemmel's £350,000 move from Metz.

Schemmel, who was on loan last season, was expected to undergo a medical today.