HUTCHINGS HOMES IN ON HAREWOOD

Wigan are closing in on the £4million capture of West Ham striker Marlon Harewood, with reports suggesting a deal could be struck this weekend.

The 27-year-old former Nottingham Forest hitman was at the JJB on Friday for talks and a medical, according to reports in the Wigan Evening Post.

Latics have chased Harewood for much of the summer, and looked close to signing him earlier in the week.

But negotiations over a fee with West Ham dragged on longer than expected, raising fears the Hammers were being awkward following Latics' stance on the Carlos Tevez saga.

Birmingham were reported to have come in with a last-minute bid, but that proved a red herring.

They had shown an interest in Harewood earlier in June, although didn't go as far as making an offer.

Latics are keen to get the deal done before they fly to Holland on Sunday for a five-day training camp during which they play friendlies against FC Zwolle and Den Bosch.

Latics boss Chris Hutchings wants Harewood on the flight with the Dutch trip which marks a step up in the preparations for the new season.

Taken from =Football365=