Negotiations  aimed at finalising Cheikhou Kouyaté’s move to Upton Park were continuing this afternoon.

David Sullivan, Karen Brady and Sam Allardyce were unedrstood to be involved in talks with the player’s agents as both the player’s personal terms and Anderlecht’s fee were under discussion.

After the twists and turns of the past few days everybody was keeping cards close to their chest not wanting things to slip away.

The Belgian club are understood to be wanting around £9 million for the player with the Hammers wanting to stick at £7.5m.

However, talks on the player’s personal terms have gone well with sources close to the talks claiming his advisers have been “extremely sensible.”

However, ClaretandHugh understands that at this stage no medical has been held.

Unofficial sources were saying there was unlikely to be an announcement “at this stage” and that more would become clear over the next 24 hours.