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Waterford's Sean Maguire (left) battles with Chris Shields of Dundalk last season. INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Transfer Gossip

The Departures Lounge: Hammers close in on Maguire

West Ham are set to complete a deal for the Wateford United youngster, while we bring you the rest of the day’s rumours.

THE JANUARY WINDOW may only be open a few days, but we’ve already seen the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea waste little time in strengthening their squads. Over the next month, we’ll bring you the best transfer tid-bits in a handy lunch time round-up.

Going?

First up is news that the Airtricity League is set to lose one of its most highly-rated teenagers to a Premier League side. West Ham have been interested in signing Waterford United and Ireland U-19 striker Sean Maguire ever since he impressed during a trial period with the Hammers.

18-year-old Maguire, who was born in England but grew up in Kilkenny, is expected to be confirmed as a West Ham player sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Joe Cole is on the verge of returning to the team he made his professional debut with after being given permission to leave Liverpool by Brendan Rodgers while Yossi Benayoun is back at Chelsea after a short loan spell at Upton Park.

Fellow London club Fulham are close to tying up a deal for Ghanaian international Derek Boateng, having missed out on the Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk midfielder in the summer. Martin Jol is an admirer of 29-year-old Boateng (no relation to brothers Kevin-Prince and Jerome) and underwent a medical yesterday ahead of a move.

Going?

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill is on the l0ok-out for a goalscorer to share the burden with Steven Fletcher and has been put “on red alert” after Paris Saint-German told Guillaume Hoarau that he can leave this month. The French international has been out of favour since the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sunderland are believed to be keen on him.

Fernando Llorente, a player linked with Manchester City and Spurs in the past, will hold talks with Juventus over a proposed move to Turin. The Athletic Bilbao frontman hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with manager Marcelo Bielsa in recent times and the Basque side have released a short statement revealing that Juve will begin discussions with the 27-year-old, who is out of contract and available on a free in the summer.

Fernando Llorente’s days at Athletic Bilbao are seemingly numbered. Credit: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport

Free agent Tal Ben Haim has been training with QPR over the last few weeks and the 30-year-old Isreali, who worked under Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth, will be offered a short-team deal by the Rs.

Gone!

Chelsea’s pursuit of Demba Ba looks to have come to an end after the Newcastle forward agreed to join the Pensioners from Newcastle. The Senegalese international is having a medical after his release-clause was triggered and will sign a three-year deal, according to Sky.

Joe Cole undergoing West Ham medical – reports

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