Slaven Bilic confident former Arsenal star will pass West Ham medical after agreeing deal

West Ham hopeful over Alex Song medical

SLAVEN BILIC is not worried that medical issues will scupper West Ham’s attempts to re-sign Alex Song.

The Barcelona midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Upton Park, is on the verge of returning to east London once again. 
This time there is no transfer fee – an agreement has been struck with the Spanish giants over the retired Cameroon international.
David Sullivan, the club’s co-owner, told a KUMB (Knees Up Mother Brown) podcast yesterday evening that the deal is subject to the 27-year-old passing a stringent medical test.
Song has had no pre-season, having had ankle surgery this summer, and he will not be available for selection until late next month.
There are concerns that he may not be the same player upon his return but Hammers manager Bilic said: "An agreement is in principle.

We are really confident that he will pass the medical

Slaven Bilic

 

"You saw the chairman statement. That said everything. We have agreed the terms and now it’s subject to the medical. We hope he will pass that.
"We know how good he was last year, how good he is as a player. He has played for Arsenal and Barcelona.
"We would like to get him. We got a lot of positive comments or details about his improvements and everything. We are really confident that he will pass the medical.
"Everyone agrees – West Ham fans, non-West Ham fans, football people across country – that, especially in the first six months, he was exceptional. He was brilliant.

"If we can get him to that stage or type of playing, so that he can stretch it for the whole season, it would be crucial for him and us.”
The Hammers, already without strikers Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia, have now lost Mauro Zarate to the treatment table.
The Argentine felt his hamstring during some club fitness tests and will be out for two weeks now. That leaves the club, according to Bilic, “quite short” in their attacking options.
West Ham will also be without goalkeeper Adrian for the home match against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Spaniard was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Leicester forward Jamie Vardy last week after going upfield for a stoppage-time corner.
Their appeal to overturn his three-match ban was unsuccessful – which has angered Bilic.
The Croatian said: "I am disappointed with a three-match ban. I was hoping our appeal would be positive but I wasn’t expecting it, because of the rules.
"Okay, the ref was a bit harsh, but I cannot argue with him
"For me, the punishment is unbelievable! It’s too big. It’s too much. When I saw the rules after that, I knew we didn’t stand a chance because the FA would have to change the rules, which they will not do."