ALAN PARDEW has been combing for players at the World Cup finals but his imminent arrivals will be coming from back home. The West Ham United manager is today expected to complete the signings of Luke Young and Carlton Cole, for a combined fee of about £5.5 million.

Young’s arrival will end West Ham’s six-month search for a right back to replace Tomas Repka, who returned to his native Czech Republic in January. Pardew has spent more than a month pursuing Young, who put in a transfer request and then rejected Charlton Athletic’s offer of a new contract. The defender, who will cost about £4 million, spent five seasons at The Valley but believes his chance of playing regularly for England would be enhanced by a move to a bigger club.

West Ham finished ninth on their return to the Premiership last season but they conceded 55 league goals, more than several teams who finished below them. Anton Ferdinand will now move back into the centre of defence after playing at right back towards the end of last season to make up for the lack of pace of Lionel Scaloni, who was on loan from Deportivo La Coruña.

With only four main strikers, including Teddy Sheringham, who turned 40 in April, West Ham are keen to bring in a younger forward. Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs interested in Cole, who will cost £1.5 million from Chelsea.

Pardew is having to be judicious in trying to bring in his five desired players on a modest budget of £10 million. Lee Bowyer arrived last month on a free transfer from Newcastle United and the West Ham manager is still interested in Steed Malbranque, the Fulham midfield player.

Manchester United are believed to be ready to increase their bid for Michael Carrick, the Tottenham midfield player, to more than £15 million. Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, wants Carrick to anchor his midfield next season and has had bids of between £10 million and £14 million rejected. Lorenzo Sanz, the Real Madrid presidential candidate, has also named Carrick as one of five players he wants to sign, should he prevail in club elections on Sunday.

Fábio Aurélio is expected to sign for Liverpool on a free transfer, according to reports in Spain. The Valencia defender, 26, has been offered a four-year deal, after six years of playing in Spain. David Weir, the defender, has signed a new one-year contract at Everton.

Hull City have appointed Phil Parkinson as their new manager, after two weeks of negotiations with Colchester United, who had turned down Parkinson’s resignation and obtained a High Court injunction to prevent him breaking his contract that had a year left to run. Martin Allen, the Milton Keynes Dons manager, is prepared to sell Izale McLeod, the striker who scored 17 goals last season.