Emmanuel Adebayor has turned down a loan move to West Ham, who were prepared to pay the striker £100,000 a week.
Under the offer the 26-year-old would still have received £180,000 a week wages with his club, Manchester City, making up the shortfall.
West Ham are anxious to sign a striker to get them out of relegation trouble and targeted Adebayor as he has been on the fringes of the first team at Eastlands since the start of last month.
During that period the £25million signing from Arsenal has played just twice and both of those games were in the Europa League.
However, rather than get regular games at West Ham, Adebayor has decided to stay at the Manchester club and fight for his place.
The Hammers are hoping to sign up to four players in next month's transfer window and their priority remains a striker. Avram Grant's team has scored just 16 goals in 18 Premier League games this season — a prime reason for their position at the foot of the table.
There could be better news for West Ham, in their efforts to sign Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell.
The club are well on the way to agreeing a loan deal for the former Arsenal and Chelsea player who is expected to be fit soon despite an Achilles injury.
West Ham's move for the combative midfielder, would appear to increase the chances of Scott Parker being allowed to go in January but it is understood the more likely scenario is the departure of Switzerland international Valon Behrami, who wants to return to Italian football.
Behrami, who was forced out of the 1-1 draw with Blackburn after feeling a leg injury in the warm-up, could be back for the Boxing Day clash at Fulham. Goalkeeper Robert Green, who also missed the trip to Ewood Park following minor surgery on a hip problem, is also expected to return while striker Victor Obinna faces a late test on a badly bruised leg.
Grant remains upbeat about his team's survival chances despite the fact that only one team has survived after being bottom at Christmas. The boss said: "I'm confident we can do it."
City, meanwhile, will go top of the League if they beat Everton tonight, a year after Roberto Mancini took over.
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Defender Micah Richards said: "He's changed the club around and he's done ever so well. We are getting good results. He's happy, the players are happy and we're just looking forward to the future."
