Fulham want to pay West Ham a staggering £6.5m for Zamora

Fulham are prepared to pay £6.5m for Bobby Zamora

Fulham are close to agreeing a staggering £6.5million fee for West Ham striker Bobby Zamora as replacement
for departed skipper Brian
McBride.

Zamora, 27, will tie up the
move subject to a medical and personal terms being agreed in a deal which is also likely to include full back John Pantsil, who has long been surplus to requirements.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson wants to reinforce his squad in a bid to head off another relegation scrap next season.

But despite
bolstering the strikeforce,
the huge sum is likely to
shock Fulham fans.

West Ham supporters, too, will be surprised by the fee - especially considering
Pantsil cost £1m two seasons ago and has made just nine starts since then - although they will be delighted their club finally have raised some cash to spend in the transfer market.

Zamora was prolific with Brighton in the lower divisions, with 83 goals in 136 appearances, but has struggled in the top flight.

A £1.5m move to Tottenham in 2003 proved frustrating and 18 months later he was shipped out as part of the deal for Jermain Defoe having played only 18 times, 11 of
these as a substitute.

At Upton Park he did produce flashes of the scoring form which made him a cult hero at Brighton.

But his 40 goals in 152 West Ham games still represent a modest haul.