Jussi Jaaskelainen has agreed terms and will replace the outgoing Rob Green when his Bolton contract expires on July 1.
Here are NINE players who the papers claim could be joining him at Upton Park next season.
West Ham have reportedly had an a £4 million bid for Matt Jarvis turned down by Wolves. It is hardly surprising as Wolves will want to get double that if they can for one of their prized assets. Jarvis will be a key man in Wolves promotion push so they do not need to sell. On the other hand Jarvis was in the England squad 15 months ago, and his ambition will see him keen to move on and become part of the international set up for the upcoming World qualifiers. He is 26 and would be a good signing for West Ham. He scored eight goals last season and other clubs may too be interested, including Villa and West Brom, so the Hammers are right to try and get in there early, but will have to up their offer while avoid overpaying.
Sam Allardyce has been spotted in Italy and is reported to be talking business with Italian champions Juventus. One of the players he is keen on is Dutch winger Eljero Elia. Elia is a Holland international who was part of their World Cup squad, creating a goal in their win over Denmark two years ago. A £7 million move from Hamburg to Juventus last summer was meant to be the next big step in his career but success has failed to materialise. The 25-year-old played just four games for the club, and has had a transfer request accepted. He is a left-winger and is clearly talented. He'd be a bargain if Big Sam can do the deal.
Another Juventus outcast West Ham are linked with is Milos Krasic. The Serb is 27 and after a decent debut season at the Italian club which saw him score a hat-trick his second season saw him fall out of favour, making seven appearances scoring one goal. He is a right sided player so there is the possibility the Hammers could get wingers for either flank in a double deal with Elia. Krasic has previously been linked with Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool but moves have failed to materialise- but Rodgers is said to be keen to bring him to Liverpool. He will want to avoid another season sitting on the bench and he would be a quality addition to the Hammers.
Free agent Momo Diame is said to be in negotiations with West Ham after leaving Wigan Athletic. Diame has been courted by a number of clubs and was even reported to be on the verge of a move to Liverpool before Kenny Dalglish left the club. Sunderland are another club said to be keen, while Spaniards Malaga have also expressed an interest. The 24-year-old scored three goals last season and played an important role in Wigan's late push to avoid relegation. He clearly wants a big move and his agent will be working overtime, it is up to Allardyce to make him an offer and convince him West Ham are the club to spend his future with.
Victor Wanyama will hope to become the first Kenyan to ever play in the Premier League if he sealed a deal with the Hammers. The 20-year-old central midfielder is at Celtic and scored four goals last season. He can also play in central defence and has already earned 18 international caps. He cost Celtic £1 million last summer but the Glasgow giants value him at six times that now. He is also interesting QPR, Newcastle, Liverpool and Stoke. He is known for his physical approach which saw him sent off against Rangers and pick up two bans at his previous club in Belgium. He could be a shrewd investment but the Hammers won't want to pay over the odds.
West Ham have been added to a line of clubs chasing Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson by regional newspaper the Northern Echo. Simpson is also being targeted by QPR, Fulham, and Norwich City and is expected to leave St James Park this summer. He feels the club's £25,000 a week offer is not enough and has dug his heels into such an extent both parties are looking elsewhere, with Newcastle busy scouting new right-backs. If West Ham could tempt him he would be an excellent addition, but right now there are no concrete developments.
Do West Ham want to sign Modibo Maiga? The Mail is one of the papers which claims yes, adding that they lead the chase for the £4 million rated striker. Maiga plays for French side Sochaux and is a Mali international. He is 25 and scored nine goals in 17 starts last season - including five in his last seven matches. West Ham have Cole, Maynard and Vaz Te forming their strikeforce but will need to sign a fourth man. Whether Maiga is that man, and the one they need to keep them in the Premier League is another matter, but £4 million is a relatively low gamble.
Yakubu was Blackburn's ace last year who almost helped them avoid relegation. He scored 17 goals last season and is Rovers biggest asset. The Lancashire Telegraph last night claimed that West Ham could sign him for a cut-price £1 million thanks to a relegation clause in his contract. After losing Demba Ba on a free in similar circumstances a year ago, it would be sweet for West Ham to turn the tables and back a bargain themselves.
The Mirror is reporting that Inter Milan striker Luc Castaignos is the third Italian based transfer target for the Hammers. Castaignos is only 19 and was hailed a year ago as Europe's next big striker but has failed to settle so far in Italy. He has been linked with a move back to Holland with Feyenoord, but Allardyce would do well to enquire as reports suggest.
Which of these players do you want and which ones do you think the club will sign?
image: © Matthew Black
Dan Coombs
@hitcdancoombsGoogle+more stories from Dan Coombs
Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.
As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.
He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.
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