The Hammers gave the Frenchman permission to talk to the Spanish champions after he struggled to secure a sustained run in the first team this season.

Madrid have been searching for a right winger during the transfer window and were linked with the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Aaron Lennon and Antonio Valencia. However, they now seem to have settled for Faubert.

Chief executive Scott Duxbury told his club's website, whufc.com: "Julien has struggled to get into Gianfranco Zola's team this season - and despite the high hopes we had for him when he joined us 18 months ago, he has not had the best of times.

"He had asked the manager about a possible move, and we felt it right to let him talk to Real Madrid.

"If it does not happen then we will, of course, welcome Julien back into the squad.

"I was first contacted by Madrid on Friday morning - and after extensive negotiations, we have agreed in principle a deal that would see them paying us a £1.5million fee to take Julien until the end of the season.

"His long-term future would then be reviewed in the summer, with a significant transfer fee payable should Madrid want to take up their option.

"If Julien does go on loan, then we will look to quickly bring in a replacement."

Faubert joined the London side in 2007 from Bordeaux but soon suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, which left him on the sidelines for the first half of last season.