Two More In And That's Your Lot-Defender And Striker

Having completed the signing of Portuguese centre back Goncalo Cardoso, who passed his medical late last night and is expected to be announced officially today, Hammers are trying to tidy up their last bit of business of this transfer window by attempting to sign Basel's 22 year old Swiss International forward Albian Ajeti who would bcome the club's sixth and final signing of the summer.

The transfer fee agreed for Cordosa with his club Boavista is thought to be just £2.7 Million plus additional add ons and a 20% sell on clause. Cordosa was scouted by the West Ham during Portugal’s campaign at the recent Under 19 European Championships in Armenia.

Although he is relatively young, the centre back will walk straight in to the first team squad and will be encouraged to push for the third place spot behind Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena. Cordosa's arrival is not all good news, especially for Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid who could quickly find themselves dropping down the pecking order or even out of the club entirely.

Cordosa and Ajeti are definitely the last players who will be recruited for now, as was conformed by Manuel Pellegrini. “We will see during the week,” he concluded. “I think that I have never seen a team which has so many players [linked to it]. Every player that has the option to change club, I think West Ham wants, but most of them are not true! “I will analyse with [director of football] Mario Husillos and the owner [David Sullivan] and we will decide this week what we must work on.”

The talks with Basel have not all been plain sailing, Hammers initial opening bid of £4 Million is way short of Basel's £8 Million valuation, however it is thought a compromise may be reached that involves a loan deal with a commitment to buy at the beginning of next season. Ajeti scored 15 goals in 35 games for Basel last season and has seven caps for Switzerland. He was a substitute for Switzerland when they lost 1-0 to England in a friendly at Wembley last September.

Brentford are also interested in Ajeti as they search for a replacement for Neal Maupay following his £20 Million departure to Brighton last night. The player, though, is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League.

These two signings were the very least the squad needed to just make up the numbers, as nine players have been released or sold, with only six replacing them. The window 'slams shut' on Thursday, perhaps one day it will close quietly for West Ham? - Ed