Skysports.com understand that Alexei Smertin is on his way back
to The Premiership and he is heading to West Ham.
The Russian international has fallen out of favour with Dinamo
Moscow in recent weeks and they have confirmed that the 31-year-old
can leave the club.
"It was a mutual decision to list him for transfer," said Dinamo
supremo Dmitry Ivanov.
"Dinamo will not make any problems for Smertin to transfer to the
club he wants."
Dinamo only just avoided relegation from the Russian top-flight,
but Smertin himself played 22 games and was widely regarded as
their best player.
Smertin moved back to Russia just less than 12 months ago when he
left Charlton to sign for Dinamo.
However, he now looks set to return to England and West Ham have
won the battle for him, beating Charlton and Fulham to his
signature.
Smertin first arrived in The Premiership with Chelsea - but spent
his first season on loan at Portsmouth.
He impressed at Fratton Park and then spent the following year with
the English champions - before again being loaned out, this time to
Charlton.
Now Smertin is free to leave Dinamo and he is in now in talks to
finalise his future, which will be in East London.
Skysports.com understand that Smertin will sign a two-and-half year
deal at Upton Park.