Hammers win Faubert race

  • by Matthew O'Greel
  • Saturday, 30th June 2007

West Ham United are understood to be on the verge of signing French international winger Julien Faubert.

According to the player's agent, United are set to fork out £6m to secure the services of the 23-year-old Bordeaux winger.

Earlier in the week it looked as if the pacy Faubert - who is nicknamed 'Le TGV' after the French express train due - would be on his way to the SPL with Rangers, who had apparently agreed personal terms with the player - despite Bordeaux having rejected the Gers' opening £4m bid.

Faubert is then reported to have gone on strike for three days after Bordeaux rejected Rangers' offer, after which he was told he would be frozen out of the French national team should he continue to refuse to play.

Faubert's agent, Philippe Sol, claims that at this stage a deal was struck with the Hammers.

"Julien was summoned to a meeting with the Bordeaux president on Friday night and told about West Ham's offer," he said. "It was substantially more than any cash on the table from Rangers and Julien was given an ultimatum by Bordeaux - West Ham or nowhere.

"They were no longer interested in talking with Rangers and after everything that went on with Julien last week there really wasn't much way back for him.

"He wanted to go to Rangers and had given them his word. Everything he did last week was about moving to Rangers, and he wasn't looking to line up a move anywhere else.

"But there is nothing he could do about the transfer fee and you can understand why Bordeaux wanted to accept the offer from West Ham.

"I'm sure Julien will now be relieved he can get on with his career and will do everything to try and make a successful impact on English football."

Gilles Rousset, a former Rangers player and now goalkeeping coach at Lyon added that he was 'surprised' that Faubert was being allowed to leave Bordeaux so cheaply.

"He is a key player for them," said Rousset. "The prices being talked about here [in France] have been between £7m-£9m.

"He might be an unknown name in the UK right now but take it from me, he is very highly rated in France."

Faubert's arrival would almost certainly signal the end of United's interest in Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is also said to be interesting Tottenham and Manchester City.

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