By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent
Mohamed Diame is poised to put pen to paper on a new West Ham contract on Thursday, Goal.com has learned.
The midfielder, who has been pursued by a string of Premier League big-hitters during the January window, arrived at Upton Park on Thursday afternoon for talks with the club’s vice-chair Karren Brady.
It is expected that Diame will sign an extended deal on improved terms that will remove the release clause inserted into the agreement he signed last summer when he joined on a free from Wigan Athletic.
Manager Sam Allardyce suggested on Tuesday that there remained a possibility that the midfield powerhouse could leave before Thursday night’s transfer deadline.
However, West Ham appear to have won their battle to hang on to the Senegal international after offering improved terms earlier this month.
Arsenal, who identified him as a target in early December, and Tottenham were among the clubs who made enquiries for Diame but it is understood they were put off from making bids by the confusion surrounding the value of the buy-out clause
The player’s agent Willie McKay had gone on record to say it was £3.5 million (€4m), but in reality it is believed to be a far higher figure.
Diame had held back on signing the deal on the table but is now set to stay at Upton Park and sign an agreement that will considerably enhance his current wages of £30,000-a-week (€35,000).