And Mellor makes four

West Ham are expected to announce the loan-signing of Liverpool striker Neil Mellor later today, according to reports.

20-year-old Mellor - who scored once during his six first team appearances for the Reds last season, whilst hitting 20 for the reserves - is expected to tie up a season-long loan spell at Upton Park later this afternoon.

The Sheffield born youngster comes to West Ham as a highly rated player who is described by Liverpool's club website as 'a strong, powerful promising striker with an uncanny ability to score goals at any level'.

Mellor made his first team debut at Anfield against Ipswich in December 2002, and went on to make a further five appearances for the Merseysiders last season.

Should he join as expected Mellor will become Glenn Roeder's fourth signing of the summer, following Rob Lee, David Connolly and Matt Etherington.

Roeder has thus far refused to name the striker he is chasing, although he had this to say earlier today:

"It would be unfair on the club to say who the player is.

"But it is another young player at a top Premiership side and I am pretty excited about it.

"There is no chance that he will be sold to us or to anyone else but I have already said too much - hopefully, the player I have in mind will produce lots of goals for us."

We'll have more news on this story as it happens ...