West Ham United transfer news: Fulham star Ryan Fredericks set to join next week, but Hammers to miss out on Tom Cairney
West Ham United are set to announce the signing of Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks on a free transfer next week, according to reports.
The defender will become Manuel Pellegrinis first signing, after agreeing a four-year deal with the east Londoners.
Despite securing promotion to the Premier League with Fulham, the right-back has failed to agree terms on a new deal at Craven Cottage and will depart once his contract officially expires.
According to the Evening Standard, the Hammers are also interested in Tom Cairney; Fredericks former captain at the Cottagers.
A deal for the Scotland international will be far more tricky given that he is the club captain and will be seen by Slavisa Jokanovic as integral to keeping the club in the Premier League next season.
Former Irons boss David Moyes scouted the midfielder several times during his stay in east London but, after scoring the winner in the Play-Off Final against Aston Villa, a deal for Cairney would surely be bordering on impossible to complete.
The report from the London-based paper continued to say that Fredericks wanted a deal which reflected his status at the club and made him the highest earner eclipsing Cairney on £40,000-a-week.
However, it is now understood the 25-year-old will arrive at the London Stadium to provide 33-year-old Pablo Zabaleta with competition for the right-back berth.