LONDON (AP):

WEST HAM have denied accusations by the businessman claiming to own Carlos Tevez that the club made misleading statements over the Argentina striker's mooted transfer to Manchester United.

West Ham are attempting to sell Tevez to United after disregarding a previous contract between themselves and MSI, the company owned by Anglo-Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian that held the rights to the player.

MSI this week said West Ham's insistence that they had Tevez signed to a four-year contract was inaccurate, but the Hammers responded yesterday by restating their stance.

"It is absolutely clear that the only contract relating to Carlos Tevez recognised by West Ham United and the Premier League is the player's four-year contract which runs until June 2010," the club said in a statement.

"All other arrangements were terminated by West Ham on April 27, 2007 and no legal challenge to that termination has occurred."

MSI has threatened "to bring the true circumstances to the attention of a higher authority," but has not elaborated on that.