Transfer news: a busy week ahead?

West Ham United could be set to make their first major signings of the summer within the next few days.

Alan Curbishley - supported by the biggest transfer warchest ever handed to a United manager - is ready to begin spending the millions given him by Chairman Eggert Magnusson, who has been in negotiations with a number of targets during the past fortnight.

The main target appears to be Newcastle captain Scott Parker, who is ready to return to London after just a year in the North East where he has failed to settle.

Parker - who previously worked under Curbishley at Charlton - is expected to replace Nigel Reo-Coker, who could be heading to St James Park in a swap deal although a number of other Premiership clubs - including Tottenham and Everton - are keeping tabs on the wantaway United midfielder.

Another target - Manchester City's Joey Barton - is thought to want a move to London, giving the Hammers the lead over other potential suitors such as Newcastle. The Hammers are thought to be looking at both Parker and Barton, rather than one or the other. Both are likely to cost around £8m.

Meanwhile Charlton's Darren Bent is currently mulling over offers from both West Ham United and Tottenham. Although Spurs can offer European football, Bent is thought to favour a move to Upton Park on the basis that he will play more first team football.

The Hammers are said to have offered a cash plus player deal, with either Marlon Harewood or Hayden Mullins likely to move to the Valley in return for Bent and around £8.5m.

Other players also thought to be in the frame are Reading left-back Nickey Shorey, Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka and Monaco's Yaya Toure - younger brother of Arsenal's Kolo Toure.

Rumours linking the Hammers with moves for Chelsea's Claude Makelele and Charlton's Luke Young are thought to be wide of the mark.