Roeder, whose side are toiling at the foot of the Barclaycard Premiership, is desperate to add to his squad during the month-long transfer window.

He told the club’s official website, www.whufc.com: “Everything went well and we expect things to be finalised sooner rather than later.”

Roeder is excited by the possibility of signinig the 26-year-old, albeit on a short-term deal, and added: “He is a fantastic midfield player and has got the best years of his career in front of him.”

Managing director Paul Aldridge shares Roeder’s confidence that Bowyer will soon be a West Ham player.

He told the club’s website: “We had a very good meeting and when the paperwork is completed – as we are sure it will be – we are confident the deal will be done in the next 24-48 hours.”

Bowyer was born in Canning Town, East London, and is a West Ham fan whose hero used to be Billy Bonds.

Legal bills arising from his much-publicised trial were believed to be a sticking point in any potential move. But Leeds confirmed they had agreed a plan for Bowyer to repay those bills if he returns to London.

A statement on the club website said: “Lee Bowyer has told Leeds United he will not sign the contract currently on offer to him at Leeds and would therefore be leaving the club this summer.

“In the light of these circumstances we have agreed to transfer Lee Bowyer to West Ham United for an undisclosed fee.”

Leeds have been looking to offload Bowyer since the summer. The club agreed a fee with Liverpool for the England midfielder but Reds boss Gerard Houllier had second thoughts and the move collapsed.

Birmingham last week admitted they had made enquiries about the former Charlton player’s availability, while Tottenham were also believed to have turned down the chance to sign Bowyer but were worried about his off-field reputation.

Roeder still hopes to complete the signing of a striker, with Tottenham’s Les Ferdinand heading his short list.

Aldridge told the club’s website: “We are still working on the forward we all know we need at this moment, but again it must be the right one.

“I think if we get two transfers of the right quality done that will be it.”

Aldridge also revealed the club would talk to stand-in skipper Joe Cole about a new contract in a bid to head off interest from other clubs.

He added: “We are having discussions regarding a new contract for Joe and a meeting will be set up before the end of the season.”