Scott Parker has been backed to join Chelsea following a huge gamble from punters, one leading bookmaker has reported.
Parker is expected to leave West Ham this summer following the club's relegation to the Championship.
Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham have all been linked with the England international, but a move to Chelsea could on the cards, based on market movement with top bookmaker Victor Chandler.
Victor Chandler on Monday afternoon slashed the odds on Parker joining the Blues this summer from 20/1 to Evens following a sustained gamble on the midfielder moving from West Ham to Stamford Bridge.
The 30-year-old had an unsuccessful 18-month spell with the west London club before joining Newcastle in June 2005 and then switching to Upton Park 12 months later.
VC spokesperson Charlie McCann told Crunchsports.com: "For most of the summer we thought the race for Parker’s signature was a straight fight between the North London Clubs, with Aston Villa waiting in the wings.
"Spurs were 2/1 favourites this morning but are now out to 10/1 to get the England midfielder’s signature and Arsenal, similarly, are 10s from 2/1 in light of the links to Chelsea and the optimistic noises surrounding the futures of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas from Gunners manager Arsene Wenger."
Punters may have been persuaded to back Chelsea snapping up Parker following the recent injury news regarding Michael Essien, and Tottenham’s insistance that playmaker Luka Modric is not for sale.