WEST Ham will face an agonising wait to see if two late signings will be allowed to stand, subject to registration at the Premier League.

It had been thought that the transfer window had slammed shut on Monday without manager Alan Curbishley signing anyone.

But a statement on the club's official website claims the Hammers have snapped up Italian striker David Di Michele and Congolese left-back Herita Ilunga on season-long loan deals.

It is thought that the east Londoners failed to make the midnight cut-off point due to administrative issues concerning the release of international transfer certificates.

Veteran Di Michele arrives from Torino, where he scored six times in 25 appearances last season.

The 32-year-old striker will already be know to Hammers supporters having scored against them in the UEFA Cup, as his then side Palermo secured a 4-0 aggregate win in 2006.

And following the news that Curbishley had allowed left-back George McCartney to return to Sunderland for family reasons, he moved quickly to secure the services of 26-year-old Ilunga.

The defender experienced European football during Toulouse’s UEFA Cup campaign last season, having previously spent four years at Saint-Étienne.

If the deals are granted for the pair, they will have the chance to try and make their moves permanent if they impress during their season at Upton Park.