West Ham have eased their striker crisis by signing Benni McCarthy from Blackburn for £2.5m.
McCarthy has scored four goals in 16 games this season but has spent most of the campaign on the bench.
"Now I can just get back to playing and getting a place in the team," said McCarthy, who signed an 18-month deal.
"I am also looking forward to help getting the club out of a tough situation."
The 32-year-old refused to criticise Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce over the increasingly limited role he played at the club.
"I have no complaints about Blackburn," he said. "They did not play the kind of football that I wanted to play and so I couldn't play there. The manager has always been up front with me."
Striker Ilan — who has been released from St Etienne — was at West Ham today for talks over a loan move.
Although born in Brazil, the 29-year-old has an Italian passport so a work permit would not be an issue.
The Hammers were also trying to get former Tottenham striker Mido on a temporary deal from Middlesbrough.
