11th hour transfer deal for Darren Fletcher

West Brom have completed an 11th-hour swoop for Manchester United vice-captain Darren Fletcher.

Fletcher was set to join West Ham last Friday, but talks broke down and West Brom stepped in to take the 31-year-old off United’s hands.

Fletcher reported to United’s team hotel in Manchester on deadline day, where the squad are staying ahead of their FA Cup replay against Cambridge, but he quickly left after the Baggies came calling.

The Scot drove to the Midlands on Monday evening for a medical, which he passed, and the club announced the deal had gone through just after midnight.

West Brom tweeted: “Albion are delighted to welcome Darren Fletcher on free transfer. Our new No.24 has signed a 2.5 year deal with a 12-month option...”.

Fletcher has played 342 times for United, but his experience has not been able to earn him a place in Louis van Gaal’s starting XI this term.

United told their vice-captain earlier this month that he could leave on a free transfer.

Although Albion succeeded in their bid to sign Fletcher from United, they failed to land another of their targets.

Striker Carlton Cole drove to West Brom’s training ground on Monday evening as he looked to complete a move from West Ham.

But the Hammers pulled the plug on the deal when it emerged that they had been unsuccessful in their bid to lure Emmanuel Adebayor from Tottenham.

Press Association Sport understands talks between Albion and Norwich over a swap deal involving Graham Dorrans and Martin Olsson collapsed.

West Brom were rumoured to be on the verge of selling record signing Brown Ideye to Qatari side Al Gharafa for five million euros (£3.8million) earlier in the day, but that move has not materialised and he will now stay with Tony Pulis’ side.