West Ham eye £15m swoop for Fulham captain Tom Cairney but face competition from West Brom
Hammers turn to Championship promotion hopefuls to end their search for midfielder as David Moyes tries to build a squad capable of ensuring Premier League survival
WEST HAM want Fulham star Tom Cairney to help boost their battle to stay in the Premier League.
Hammers boss David Moyes is desperate to bring in a reliable midfielder to bolster his team for the final four months of the season.
And West Ham are now preparing a £15million bid to tempt Championship promotion hopefuls Fulham into selling their captain.
The say the 27-year-old is wanted by the Hammers as Moyes finally gets the chance to make changes to the squad he inherited from Slaven Bilic.
Cairney is widely regarded as one of the best players outside the Premier League, and last year made his international debut for Scotland.
His displays at the heart of Fulham midfield have seen the London side now move to within striking distance of the play-off places in the Championship.
And they have also meant top flight clubs have started to take note, with West Brom also showing a strong interest in striking a deal this month.
But it is the Hammers who are understood to be close to following up their interest with a hard cash offer before the transfer window closes next week.
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Moyes has been hit hard by a series of injuries to his senior players, with Marko Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll all ruled out.
The club yesterday completed a loan move for Inter Milan star Joao Mario, but the club are still hoping to get another couple of deals done this month.
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A disciplined midfielder to play at the base of the side has been a position Moyes has identified as urgently needed ever since he has been at the club.
Cairney fits that bill, but Fulham will need some convincing about selling one of their best players with the chance of a promotion push within reach.
West Ham have also been forced to make a late move for a striker, with Carroll sidelined for three months with a broken bone in his foot.
Arnautovic is expected to be out until late February, and Moyes knows his options are limited in attack with Diafra Sakho and Anre Ayew both close to leaving.
They are considering reviving their interest in Liverpool outcast Daniel Sturridge by making a late bid to sign him on loan.
Inter Milan and Sevilla are a long way along the line of trying to get deals agreed with Liverpool for Sturridge.
But with the striker just desperate for games to keep his World Cup dreams alive, the Hammers could yet offer him the chance to remain in the Premier League.