Hammers confident over Bowyer deal

West Ham are confident Lee Bowyer will be in their team to face Newcastle at Upton Park on Saturday and help them fight their way out of relegation trouble.

Bowyer was due to travel to London this afternoon for talks with Hammers boss Glenn Roeder and managing director Paul Aldridge.

But the player was delayed and the meeting will now not take place until tonight.

West Ham have already agreed a nominal fee with Leeds to sign Bowyer, so all that remains is to agree personal terms and for the midfielder to pass a medical.

If Bowyer completes his switch to Upton Park without any last-minute hitches, he will return to Leeds to sort out some personal business and may not be officially unveiled by the Hammers until Thursday or Friday.

Roeder is desperate to strengthen his bottom-of-the-table squad while the transfer window is open and said: “We are trying to find a solution that will bring Lee to the club.

“He’s a fantastic midfielder who has the best years of his career ahead of him.”

Roeder’s priority has been to sign a striker as Paolo di Canio and Freddie Kanoute are long-term injury victims, but the chance to sign a quality midfielder like England star Bowyer is too good to resist.

Aldridge is also keen to sort out personal terms tonight as he is due to fly to Italy tomorrow to check on di Canio’s progress.

He told PA Sport: “We have been working hard for some time to put this deal together and have agreed terms in principle with Leeds.

“Lee is currently on his way to London. We need to talk with him and hopefully we will then be in a position to take it further, tie up the loose ends and thrash out a contract as soon as possible.

“Lee would still have to undergo a medical so I’m not sure the deal will be concluded tonight, but it would be nice if he was in the squad for our game on Saturday.”

Bowyer, who would have been out of contract at Elland Road this summer, has turned down a new deal with Leeds.

Born in Canning Town, East London, he is a West Ham fan whose hero used to be Billy Bonds.

Leeds have decided to cut their losses on him and a statement on the club’s website today confirmed: “Leeds United and Lee have agreed a schedule for the repayment of his outstanding legal fees. Lee will be having contract talks with West Ham later today.”

Leeds have been looking to offload Bowyer since the summer. The club agreed a fee with Liverpool for the England midfielder but Reds boss Gerard Houllier had second thoughts and the move collapsed.

Birmingham last week admitted they had made enquiries about the former Charlton player’s availability, while Tottenham were also believed to have turned down the chance to sign Bowyer but were worried about his off-field reputation.

Legal bills arising from his much-publicised trial were believed to be a sticking point in any potential move. But Leeds confirmed they had agreed a plan for Bowyer to repay those bills if he returns to London.

A statement on the club website added: “Lee Bowyer has told Leeds United he will not sign the contract currently on offer to him at Leeds and would therefore be leaving the club this summer.

“In the light of these circumstances we have agreed to transfer Lee Bowyer to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee.”

Roeder still hopes to complete the signing of a striker, with Tottenham’s Les Ferdinand heading his short list.

Aldridge told the club’s website: “We are still working on the forward we all know we need at this moment, but again it must be the right one.

“I think if we get two transfers of the right quality done that will be it.”

Aldridge also revealed the club would talk to stand-in skipper Joe Cole about a new contract in a bid to head off interest from other clubs.

He added: “We are having discussions regarding a new contract for Joe and a meeting will be set up before the end of the season.”