Frustrated West Ham boss denies interest in Ghana defender

By Nick Wright Tuesday, January 22, 2013
12:35 PM

Transfer news: Sam Allardyce today dismissed speculation linking West Ham with Ghana international Samuel Inkoom as the Hammers continue to be frustrated in their efforts to sign a defender.

23-year-old Inkoom, who plays for Ukranian side Dnipro, is one of a number of defenders to have been linked with West Ham this January.

The east London club have so far been unsuccessful in their efforts to sign Blackburn’s Martin Olsson, while Nancy youngster Massadio Haidara, another reported target, is set to join Newcastle.

Allardyce says he has been working since the start of the month to bring in a defender but admits West Ham’s preference for short-term loan deals has proved a stumbling block.

When asked if prioritising loan signings would rule out the possibility of moving for Inkoom, Allardyce replied: “Yes.”

He continued: “It’s been hugely frustrating that we’ve been trying for the whole of the window to bring in a defender but not been able to clinch a deal yet.

“It’s probably because we’ve been looking for the short-term loan deals, as in not permanent deals.

“I think at this stage of the window, if clubs are going to release a player, they would let him go on a permanent basis, not on a short-term loan basis.”

Allardyce did say, however, that he thought the Hammers may have better luck nearer the end of the window, when selling clubs are more likely to do business.

“I think it will probably change as the window gets nearer to closing,” he said.

“Hopefully we’ll be more successful in our [efforts] to get a defender in at that stage.”

He added: “There may be somebody out there who is in the last six months of their contract. That would suit us.

“There’s nothing we can loan in this country because we already have our two [domestic] loans taken up.

“So we are looking abroad. Hopefully we will be successful before the deadline.”