Allardyce: No Arsenal bid for Diame

By Nick Wright Tuesday, January 15, 2013
11:24 AM

Transfer news: Manager Sam Allardyce insists West Ham have not received a bid from Arsenal for in-demand midfielder Mohamed Diame.

The Gunners have been strongly linked with a January swoop for the Senegal international, who has a release clause of £3.5million in his contract at Upton Park.

With Mikel Arteta ruled out for three weeks with a calf strain, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reportedly wants Diame to reinforce his midfield.

Chelsea and QPR are also rumoured to be interested in the 25-year-old, who has recently recovered from injury and is expected to feature for West Ham in tomorrow night’s FA Cup replay against Manchester United.

Hammers boss Allardyce admits he is worried about losing Diame but says there has been no concrete offer from Arsenal and believes the former Wigan man wouldn’t be guaranteed regular football at the Emirates.

“You’re always worrying about losing players if people are interested in them,” he said. “At this stage of the season you don’t want to.”

He continued: “We have had no official bid at all from Arsenal for Mo Diame, and I can’t see where he would fit in there.

“I can’t see who he’s going to replace. There wouldn’t be any point in him going unless he’s playing, would there?”