West Ham are close to appointing Manuel Pellegrini as new manager.

The London Evening Standard says West Ham are ready to pay Pellegrini around £10 million a year if he agrees to become their manager.

The Chilean was set for talks with co-owner David Sullivan today and West Ham are confident they will be able to confirm his appointment, on a three-year contract, within the next 48 hours.

The size of the salary West Ham are prepared to pay underlines their determination to land their man, following criticism last week, when they decided not to give David Moyes a new contract after he had kept them up.

Pellegrini, 64, would immediately become one of the highest earners among Premier League bosses.