Capital rivals set to hijack Watson's Boro deal

New target: Fulham and West Ham have joined the race to sign Ben Watson

Fulham and West Ham have made an 11th-hour bid to land Crystal Palace star Ben Watson.

The Eagles midfielder was set to seal a switch to Middlesbrough today after Boro's £2million offer was accepted by the Championship club.

Watson, 23, had travelled to the North-East for talks over personal terms and to undergo a medical at the club's training headquarters.

But the deal is now in doubt after Fulham and West Ham both lodged matching bids with Palace late last night.

Watson had been keen to remain in the South-East and is likely to favour a move to another London club. Fulham are understood to be slight favourites and will hope to hold talks with the former England under-21 international before the weekend.

Any move for Watson is likely to open the door for Jimmy Bullard to leave Craven Cottage, after he declined to open talks over a new contract.

Palace boss Neil Warnock said: "The deal with Middlesbrough is far from being completed."

Watson's future at Selhurst Park had been in doubt since the former England Under-21 player rejected an extension to his contract which expires at the end of the season.

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