Hammers close in on striker

Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike has moved closer to completing a loan move to Premier League side West Ham United, according to ESPN FC.

Despite a restricted wage bill, the departure of Mauro Zarate has freed space for West Ham to add to the signing of defender Sam Byram from Leeds.

Carroll and Sakho are closing in on returns but neither will feature in the FA Cup at Liverpool on Saturday.

The former Nigeria worldwide is on loan at Al Ain from the 19-time Super Lig champions, although West Ham boss Slaven Bilic said this week that negotiations were ongoing to bring the forward to Upton Park. Andy will be back playing in 10 days and Diafra and (Manuel) Lanzini in two weeks. “He’s an excellent striker and among the fittest of players”.

Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray have attempted to cut a remarkably ambitious deal with West Ham United after the Hammers made a move for Burak Yilmaz.

“We spoke with Al-Ain and thought we could do a straight swap with them but Fenerbahce had to be involved”.

“In the beginning it looked easy”. But then when we had to deal with Fenerbahce, it was a third party.

The news is contrary to what Bilic said yesterday, that the Hammers were not in talks regarding a deal.