• Premier League

Grant offered West Ham deal

Avram Grant resigned as Portsmouth manager on Thursday © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Avram Grant resigns as Portsmouth manager
  
• News: Portsmouth won't stop Grant switching to West Ham
  
• News: Hammers compile four-man shortlist
  

Avram Grant has agreed a deal in principle to become West Ham United manager and sources inside the club insist it is "95% certain" he will take control at Upton Park.

Grant resigned as manager of relegated Premier League side Portsmouth on Thursday and if he comes through the final interview he will be offered a three-year contract, worth £1 million per year.

A West Ham source told Soccernet: "There are still some ends to tie up. It is 95% certain but won't be done for 12 days."

Six clubs from around Europe - including two from the Premier League - were competing to secure the services of Grant, while it has been widely reported that the second mystery English club that approached the former Chelsea manager was Liverpool.

Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou confirmed to Soccernet on Thursday that another Premier League club had made an approach but would not reveal their identity.

"I will honour the confidentiality," Andronikou said "We are talking about another manager's job."

It will send shockwaves through the game if it is correct that Liverpool might have sounded Grant out last week when there were fears that Rafa Benitez might still be wanted by Juventus, who have since appointed Luigi Del Neri.

Grant took over at Portsmouth from Paul Hart in November as the club moved from one disaster to another. After entering administration Pompey were doomed to relegation, but Grant did not walk away and led the club to the FA Cup final where they lost 1-0 to Chelsea.

After resigning his post at Fratton Park, Grant issued a statement to say it "was one of the most difficult decisions" of his football career.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.