Eder gone AWOL?

Portuguese-based striker Eder - who was reported to be set to sign for West Ham - has gone walkabout, according to reports.

The Guinea-Bissauan forward, who currently plays for Portuguese outfit Académica de Coimbra was reported to have been the subject of a bid from West Ham who are said to have sent representatives to Portugal last week in order to thrash out a deal for the 24-year-old.

However reports emanating from Portugal this morning suggest that the player - whose full name is Éderzito António Macedo Lopes - has bizarrely disappeared since negotiations began.

A representative of Os Estudantes is quoted in some Portuguese media sources today as stating: "Académica had agreed the transfer of the striker to West Ham after the league match with Rio Ave.

"Eder was taken to a hotel in Porto to settle the agreement with representatives of the English club. However, the player has since disappeared and the representatives of West Ham are also unaware of his whereabouts.

"Academy President Jose Eduardo Simoes (accompanied by Vice President Luis Godinho) has reported the incident to the Judicial Police."

Co-chairman David Sullivan, speaking via whufc.com on Thursday revealed that the club were,"hoping to make one or two important additions to the squad in the next 48 hours."