West Ham United are set to announce the retirement of Dean Ashton in the coming days.

The Sunday Mirror says the 26 year-old striker is suffering from a degenerative ankle problem following a clash with Shaun Wright-Phillips while he was training with England three years ago.

He went to Amsterdam at the beginning of August for an assessment by leading Dutch surgeon Niek van Dijk, who originally operated on him.

Van Dijk has told Ashton and West Ham's medical team that his playing days were over.

The retirement announcement has been delayed while West Ham negotiate with the Inland Revenue in an attempt to reduce the player's tax liabilities. The club are trying to help maximise his final pay day. Ashton, paid £50,000 a week, is due to receive a year's salary worth £2.6million in his settlement with the club.

But the Inland Revenue has refused to waive its liabilities and Ashton has taken legal advice about suing the FA, Wright-Phillips or Chelsea, the latter's club at the time of the injury. The Hammers are also lodging a claim against the FA but feel it is doomed to fail because the FA will claim that Ashton made a successful return from the original injury.

The players' union has reaffirmed its advice to players to arrange personal insurance to ensure their futures are secure if their careers are cut short.