West Ham boss discusses link with ex-Chelsea & Arsenal striker Anelka

By Nick Wright Saturday, January 19, 2013
8:30 AM

Transfer news: Sam Allardyce has ruled out the possibility of West Ham signing Shanghai Shenhua striker Nicolas Anelka this January.

The 33-year-old former France international has been training with Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the start of the Chinese season.

Anelka is reportedly unhappy in the Far East and has been linked with a permanent move back to Europe.

West Ham and QPR have been touted as possible Premier League destinations for the former Chelsea star, but Allardyce says he has no room in his squad for another striker.

The Hammers have already swelled their attacking ranks with loan moves for Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh and Brazilian striker Wellington Paulista, and Allardyce says they are now focused on bringing in defensive reinforcements.

“At the moment I’m not in a position [to sign] Nicolas Anelka because my main priority is defenders,” he said ahead of Saturday’s clash against QPR.

“We’ve got Andy Carroll close to coming back [from injury] and we’ve got Carlton Cole.”

He continued: “We’ve got Chamakh and we’ve brought in Wellington too.

“I haven’t really got a position for Nicolas Anelka.”