West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has criticised Newcastle over the collapsed Kieron Dyer transfer.

Dyer's move fell through after Newcastle, having initially agreed a £6million fee, raised the cost of the player by £2million.

Magnusson, who also outlined his ambition for West Ham to break into the top four of the Premier League within four years, said he was amazed at the sudden price increase.

He fumed: ''The fact that Newcastle moved the goalposts in the middle of the game is not how to do business.

''They had given us permission to speak to the player, he had had a medical and we had agreed a fee when we received a phone call that they wanted £2million more for the player.

''We could not believe it. B

"But I think the deal is now gone and I feel very sorry for the player, he wanted a move, he wanted to come closer to his family in Ipswich and now that has gone.

''I think this business with Newcastle has shown that we are not prepared to pay any price that a club puts on a player. If there are perceptions that we will do that, they are not correct.''

Magnusson added: ''The club have ambitions and we want to break into the top four within the next few years and we have to invest money - it doesn't happen otherwise.''