West Ham are pursuing their interest in 6ft 8ins tall Ivory Coast international Lacina Traore.
Sam Allardyce is desperate to add a striker to his threadbare squad and has targeted the 23-year-old even though the player only completed a £6million move to Monaco from Anzhi Makhachkala on Saturday.
The Hammers are hopeful of signing Traore on loan from the French club for the rest of the season although work permit and visa issues are yet to be resolved.
Traore earned his move to Monaco after scoring 15 goals in 39 matches during his 18-month spell at Russian club Anzhi.
West Ham boss Allardyce has also prioritised signing a centre-half in the January transfer window with Manchester City’s England defender Joleon Lescott one possibility.
“I don’t know if Joleon is available at the moment but, if he is, we would be interested,” said Allardyce.
West Ham play City in the Capital One Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, having crashed out of the FA Cup 5-0 to Nottingham Forest yesterday.
