Norwich City striker Dean Ashton is due to take a medical at Upton Park today to seal a £7million move to West Ham. If all goes to plan Ashton could be presented to Hammer fans this evening before the London derby between West Ham and Fulham.

Ashton will be West Ham's record signing with additional payments to be made to The Canaries dependent on number of appearances for club and country while there will also be a sell on clause, reported to be worth 15% to Norwich, if Ashton is sold by West Ham.

The fact that manager Alan Pardew has paid such a sum for a 22-year-old with only a few months of Premiership experience speaks volumes for the potential he believes the former Crewe man possesses; indeed the Canaries will receive £125,000 should he play for England.

A portion of the extra £500,000 will be heading to Norfolk if West Ham qualify for European competition and that could yet happen this season as they are only a couple of wins off the UEFA Cup places.

Managing director Paul Aldridge, meanwhile, believes the £7.5million to take Ashton to Upton Park will be money well spent, despite others baulking at the size of the fee.

The large transfer fee will surprise many - Wigan boss Paul Jewell baulked at Norwich's demand for "silly money" before Christmas - but Aldridge said "Alan has identified Dean as a player who can play a key role in helping the club to reach a new level, and we have therefore worked extremely hard to ensure that the transfer goes ahead.

"We are paying a club record transfer fee for Dean because we feel that, at 22, he represents an investment that can benefit West Ham for years to come at the highest level."

Ashton said the opportunity to return to the Barclays Premiership was "too good to turn down", and he will become the second striker Pardew has brought to the club during the transfer window following the arrival of Yaniv Katan.

Ashton said: "West Ham are a big club, I am ambitious and at the end of the day the chance of a swift step up to the Premiership is too good to turn down.

"I spoke to Nigel and the board and told them I wanted to pursue this opportunity." He added "I'd like to thank Norwich for understanding that and allowing myself and my representative to talk to West Ham."