Chelsea youngster Frank Nouble is currently undergoing a medical at West Ham according to reports. The 17 year-old is highly rated and Chelsea wanted to offer him his first professional contract, but the player decided to reject the offer and look elsewhere.
The starlet knows that he is more likely to break into the first team at the Hammers than at Stamford Bridge. He also knows that hes unlikely to get a chance in the Premier League with Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba standing in his way at Chelsea. Hes set to sign a five year-old contract with Gianfranco Zola’s side and compensation will be decided by a tribunal, the deal is likely to go through in the next 48 hours.
Arsenal and Tottenham had also registered an interest in the striker, but West Ham’s record of bringing through youngsters into the first team persuaded him to choose the Hammers. It’s seen as a coup for Gianfranco Zola as the youngster is tipped to be a star of the future.
Nouble will become the Hammers second signing of the season after Zola made Inter playmaker Luis Jimenez his first summer signing on a season-long loan. Zola also missed out on the signing of Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis earlier this summer. The former Wimbledon stopper decided to sign at a new contract at St Marys rather than join the Hammers.
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