Jaaskelainen excited by West Ham switch after sealing deal to leave Bolton

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UPDATED:

14:41 GMT, 13 June 2012

Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has agreed a move to West Ham, and revealed he could not wait to join the Premier League newcomers.

The 37-year-old has agreed personal terms on a one-year deal with the Hammers with an option for a second year, and will move to Upton Park when his Wanderers contract expires at the end of the month.

The former Finland international told West Ham's official website: 'I'm delighted to be joining West Ham United. After spending 15 years in Bolton it's a great new challenge and I'm really looking forward to it.

On the move: Jussi Jaaskelainen is set to join West Ham on a free transfer

'Everything has happened really quickly. When the opportunity was offered to come to West Ham I didn't think twice and I just told my agent to sort it out as quickly as possible.

'I appreciate Bolton giving me permission to speak to West Ham before my contract was up and for the efforts the chairman made in trying to get me to stay.

'I would like to thank the fans for all their support over the years and I wish the players and, in particular, (manager) Owen Coyle all the best in gaining promotion at the first attempt.'

Jaaskelainen, who joined Bolton in 1997 from Finnish club Vaasan Palloseura, played for eight years under current Hammers boss Sam Allardyce at Wanderers.

The emergence of young Hungarian keeper Adam Bogdan limited his opportunities last season though, as Bolton were relegated to the Championship.

Jaaskelainen is set to kick off West Ham's summer spending spree as Allardyce eyes shock moves for Juventus duo Milos Krasic and Eljero Elia.

The Hammers boss was filmed meeting Juve director Fabio Paratici and reports in Italy claim the Upton Park boss is keen on the wingers.

Krasic and Elia have both been told they can leave Turin this summer as the Serie A champions try to raise cash to sign a world-class striker.

In demand: Juventus duo Milos Krasic (left) and Eljero Elia (right)

But there is competition for both players. Zenit St Petersburg have opened talks to sign the pair, though Elia is thought to be keen on a rival bid from Schalke.

English clubs have monitored them, with Liverpool recently being offered either as a makeweight in a bid to sign Luis Suarez, while Krasic turned down a move to Tottenham in January.

Krasic, 27, had an impressive start to his Juve career after moving from CSKA Moscow two years ago, but he fell out of favour with boss Antonio Conte last season and featured in just seven Serie A games.

Elia, 25, only arrived from Hamburg last summer, but fared even worse – playing just four league games and losing his place in the Holland squad ahead of Euro 2012.

Jaaskelainen, meanwhile, is Upton Park-bound as West Ham seek to replace Rob Green, who is set to join QPR after agreeing a 50,000-a-week deal to move across London.

The England goalkeeper, 32, is a free agent after West Ham refused to meet his pay demands and failed to agree a new contract.

Jaaskelainen has ended his 15-year stay at Bolton after turning down a new deal, but is set to be reunited with former boss Allardyce in east London.