Guardiola is new Hammers target

West Ham are interested in signing Spanish international midfielder Josep Guardiola from Barcelona on a free transfer.

Guardiola, 30, has been with Barcelona since he was 15 but the Spanish giants are now prepared to release their Catalan star.

With almost 50 international caps to his credit, Guardiola would be a prize capture for manager Glenn Roeder, who last week signed England goalkeeper David James for £3.5 million.

Guardiola is keen to join a London-based Premiership club and Roeder and managing director Paul Aldridge are ready to fly to Spain this week to talk with the player and his representatives.

Guardiola's wage demands would inevitably be heavy but there would be no transfer fee.

"Who wouldn't be interested in a player of Guardiola's quality? said Roeder."I would certainly like the opportunity to speak to him."

Roeder, however, has cooled his interest in the Lille central defender Pascal Cygan.

The West Ham manager and Aldridge went to France last week to have talks but Roeder said today: "At £5.5m, I believe the player is overvalued."

Roeder instead, is likely to switch his attention to Finnish international defender Hannu Tihinen, who had a successful spell on loan at Upton Park last season.

Tihinen is with Norwegian club Viking Stavanger but is keen to return to West Ham, w ho would be prepared to pay around £1.5m.

A central defender is a high priority for Roeder, following the news that Croatian Igor Stimac has had his contract cancelled on compassionate grounds after his daughter developed acute asthma while living in London.

Roeder also looks certain to be without Ian Pearce for the start of the season.

Meanwhile David Ginola was still looking for a London club to end his unhappy stay at Aston Villa today after failing to attract interest from Fulham.

The Frenchman is reported to be so desperate to leave the Midlands and return to the capital, that he is willing to slash his wages of around £45,000-a-week by more than a third.