Benrahma and Dawson updates

Watford defender Craig Dawson is expected to complete his move to West Ham this week. The transfer fee is believed to be between £2m-£3m and the player has already agreed personal terms with the Championship club keen to get the 30-year-old’s £35,000 per week wages off their annual bill.

David Moyes has highlighted the defence as a key area to strengthen going into the rest of the season and the manager is said to be keen on Dawson despite the Will Salthouse connection and the obvious suggestion that this is an agent pick.

West Ham are likely to match the three years left on the defender’s contract at Watford.  The player has yet to sign a contract so nothing is definite until he puts pen to paper but it now seems only a matter of time before that happens this week.

On Said Benrahma West Ham and Brentford have agreed a transfer fee understood to be £18m plus up to a further £12m in add-ons.

The player in Holland on International duty with Algeria and due to play Mexico tomorrow at the Kyocera Stadium in Hague in an international friendly.

He has yet to agree personal terms with the Hammers but he is understood to want a five-year contract with significant pay rise on current basic plus appearance bonuses and other add-ons.  Benrahma will be released from International duty after Tuesday with some reports suggesting a medical could take place as early as Wednesday.

Claret and Hugh understand that Will Salhouse remains involved in the deal despite Benrahma recently changing agents.

Again, it’s not done until it’s done and until he puts pen to paper he is not a Hammer just yet despite premature reports to the contrary.