antonio martinez
Antonio Martinez is set to move to West Ham from Valencia. Getty

West Ham are expected to complete a "good deal for every party", during negotiations with Valencia to secure the services of Spanish starlet Toni Martinez in "the coming hours", his agent has confirmed to IBTimes UK. The 18-year-old striker would join the Hammers Under-21 side with hopes to breakthrough into Slaven Bilic's first-team in the medium term.

Martinez is considered one of the next big things to emerge from the prolific Valencia academy, being a regular with the Spain youths teams, despite missing his last call for international duty with the Under-19 side due to fitness issues.

Reports in Spain earlier on Tuesday (29 March) broke that West Ham have been attracted by his talent after the teenager impressed the Hammers scouters during the UEFA Youth League, when his side were controversially knocked out by Chelsea after a spot-kick during the penalty shoot-out was wrongly disallowed.

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Martinez's agent, Fede Marco, confirmed the news to IBTimes UK, claiming that the deal is not closed yet but hopes Valencia and the Hammers will reach an agreement in the coming hours.

"Yes, we're on it," Marco said after meeting with Valencia officials earlier on Tuesday. "Like always until everything is not closed you never know but the idea is to get it done. We are now negotiating and in the coming hours we will have a solution."

"Valencia have established their own conditions. If we manage (to close the deal) in the terms set by both clubs I think it will be a good deal for all the parties."

Some reports in Spain have claimed that the Hammers were ready to pay up to 3€m (£2.35, $3.3m) to lure the 18-year-old to London.

However, Marco said: "The figures that have emerged are absolutely inaccurate but we will not give any fees due to our respect for the two clubs and the player."

Martinez's agent, meanwhile, said that the idea is for the player to continue his development with the West Ham Under-21 side with hopes to breakthrough into the first-team in the future, as he is yet to make his début start for Valencia.

"Because of his age the idea is for him to play in West Ham reserves, to keep growing inside of a project with medium term aspirations," he said.

Super Deporte reported that the teenager had already bid farewell to the rest of his teammates after the Tuesday training session ahead of his imminent departure to the English side. Martinez's agent claims that, despite the deal expected to be completed in the coming hours, it is still under discussion whether the Valencia starlet will make the move right now or wait until the summer.

"First let's define the final terms of the agreement (between the clubs) and then we will decide when the player will join them. It is not a priority now. First we want to define the terms of the project as it is something for the medium term. Then we'll see the rest."

Martinez, this way, will become the latest Spanish starlet tempted by English football, following in the footsteps of the likes of Arsenal trio Hector Bellerin, Jon Toral, Julio Pleguezuelo and Liverpool duo Sergi Canos and Pedro Chirivella, with the latter also coming from Valencia.