The West Ham United midfielder Julien Faubert is set to join Real Madrid on loan today until the end of the season. He is due in the Spanish capital for a medical after a loan fee of £1.5m was agreed. Real's coach, Juande Ramos, has turned to Faubert after turning down Jermaine Pennant and failing to land Wigan's Antonio Valencia. West Ham added to their squad last night by completing a loan move for Spartak Moscow's Radoslav Kovac, a central defender who can also play in midfield.
West Ham signed Faubert from Bordeaux for £6.1m in the summer of 2007 but the Frenchman tore his achilles tendon in a pre-season match only weeks later, an injury which kept him out of action for over six months. Faubert has made 24 appearances this season and has proved himself versatile, regularly making the switch between right-back and right midfield. Ramos reportedly regarded Faubert as a last option after hopes of a more expensive deal faded.
The new arrival at Upton Park is an experienced Czech international defender who Gianfranco Zola hopes will add a new dynamic to the Hammers midfield. The 29-year-old Kovac joins from Spartak Moscow, where he was captain. "I am pleased to have Radoslav here. He has a lot of experience with the national team and he will give us competition in a midfield which is already very strong. I am sure he will help us with what we are trying to achieve this season," Zola said.
He joins a strong Czech contingent at the club following goalkeepers Marek Stech and Jan Lastuvka, along with Ludek Miklosko. "I am delighted we have managed to secure the services of a proven international like Radoslav ahead of interest from clubs at home and abroad," said West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury. "He brings considerable quality and will fit right into Gianfranco Zola's talented squad. The deal is such that the manager will be able to sign him permanently in the summer if he so wishes."
Guardian Unlimited
