West Ham set to complete Egwuekwe signing but Hendrie deal dead
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West Ham look to be on the verge of completing the signing of Nigerian defender Azubuike Egwuekwe, after the player landed in London to finalise the small print on his transfer.
The Hammers last week had a bid rejected by the player’s club Warri Wolves, with the Seasiders holding out for around £4m for the player.
But now Nigerian sport website sl10.ng is claiming that a deal is very much on and set to be completed in this transfer window.
While he may not be a name familiar to many in the UK, Egwuekwe is certainly showcasing his talent with aplomb in his home country.
The 6ft5in centre-back helped the Wolves to a third-placed finish last season, his captaincy arousing interest from abroad.
Both Watford and Hapoel Tel Aviv had been rumoured to be in for the player, but it looks as if though the east Londoners have won the race for the 34-capped defender.
If West Ham are to complete the deal for the 25-year-old, he would become the second centre-back brought into Upton Park in this transfer window after the arrival of Canadian international Doneil Henry at the start of the month.
But while one transfer looks to be on the horizon, another looks dead in the water for the Irons.
Ladbrokes News reported earlier this month how the capital club were prepared to up their bid in order to secure the services of Hamilton Academical’s Stephen Hendrie.
This looks to have been the case with the clubs reportedly agreeing a fee and personal terms for the 21-year-old full-back, only for his current club to cancel the deal.
“The fee was agreed, Stephen agreed personal terms through his agent and they were meant to come up to our place on New Year’s Day to sign off the deal and didn’t appear”, vice-president Ronnie MacDonald stated.
“They then said they would come up on the 4th but didn’t appear so I just cancelled the deal.
“I’m getting phone calls from London saying they want to resurrect it but as far as I’m concerned it’s off. I think West Ham are shambolic and if that’s how they carry on their business, that’s up to them.”
Expect plenty more action to come from east London before this window slams shut on February 2.
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