CandH EXCLUSIVE
West Ham United are privately happy that yesterday’s work appeal hearing into their bid to bring Lacina Traore (left) to Upton Park went well.
Sam Allardyce and club secretary Andrew Pincher attended the hearing on behalf of the club and are understood to have come away believing there was a great chance that all would be well based on previous experience.
Claret and Hugh has learned exclusively that there will be no official word from the Home Office until later this afternoon or evening.
And it will be at that point the club settle down to hammer out a loan deal with the 6ft 8in giant forward.
We have discovered that early talks with agents at that level have encouraged them to come to the point of appeal and that all is likely to go well when and if personal terms talks get underway.
But we were warned that nothing is official until the name is on the contract!
If some other club, after WHU has done all the hard admin work, sneaks in and nicks him at the 11th hour, I shall turn murderous. Really hope he joins us – an excellent stop-gap to terrify defences and to give AC the chance to gently get up to speed fitness-wise, without injuring himself again. Fingers crossed and six-guns at the ready.
Hasn’t played since October – not match fit
Oh gawd – now you tell us!