Ian Pearce is set to join promotion certs Fulham for £3.5m this week.
The 26-year-old former Chelsea and Blackburn central defender is out of the first-team picture at West Ham and the First Division runaway leaders aim to snap him up as a replacement for car crash victim Chris Coleman.
Pearce and Coleman were team-mates at Blackburn and it's likely the latter recommended Pearce as a replacement.
But the signing for Jean Tigana's expensive squad will be subject to a strict medical.
Pearce's career at Upton Park has been dogged by injury and hopes of a return at Liverpool last weekend were dashed by a bout of 'flu.
Hammers' boss Harry Redknapp has recently added £2.5m defender Rigobert Song and Finnish loanee Hannu Tihinen to his squad.
So he may see Pearce as surplus to requirements particularly if he can pick up £3.5m for him.
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Born:
Date of Birth:
Height:
Weight:
Hammers' Debut:
Former Clubs:
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Bury
St Edmunds
7 May 1974
6ft 4"
14st 3lb
Newcastle Utd (H), 20 September 1997
Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers. |
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The West Ham website says ......He is a strong, versatile defender who
gained England Youth honours before joining Blackburn Rovers for £300,000
from Chelsea in 1993. He can play in defence or attack and has gained
the reputation of one of the game's outstanding young prospects.
Powerful in the air and skillful on the ground, Ian was a member of
the Under 19 England World Cup squad in 1993.
On the opening day of the 1999/00 season Pearce suffered the tragedy
of damaging his cruciate ligament against Spurs, which subsequently ruled
him out of the whole campaign.
It was a gruelling road back to fitness for Pearce, and he finally made
his long-awaited comeback in the 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Upton
Park on 28 October 2000.
Unfortunately though, the impact of being thrown in at the Premiership
deep-end after so long on the sidelines took it's toll and Ian was soon
forced back to the treatment room with a hamstring strain.
He was tipped to return to first team action again early in the New Year.
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