West Ham make move for Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik

With West Ham’s injury list growing by the day, manager Sam Allardyce has outlined the importance of the club securing one more quality signing before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.

The Hammers have already brought in Enner Valencia, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell, Diego Poyet, Diafra Sakho and Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal, but are keen to recruit another defender to bolster their back-line.

The Hammers have identified Cameroon international Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik as the next potential target, according to reports.

Injury problems

The Irons have not had the best of luck with injuries already in this early stage of the campaign.

Andy Carroll is out until November, Matt Jarvis has a thigh problem and captain Kevin Nolan is out for at least a month with a fractured shoulder.

While new boys Jenkinson and Sakho are also sidelined for the Hammers’ next match.

Transfer options

West Ham have been linked with a host of players this summer but recently it has been made clear that a defender is definitely in their midst with Micah Richards, Philipp Wollscheid and Toby Alderweireld being identified as possible targets.

However the latest name to emerge is Rennes defender Kana-Biyik, who is said to be training with the east London outfit and a realistic alternative for the Hammers.

Big Sam is desperate to bring in a defender to avoid the calamity of last season where they were embarrassingly short on numbers all over the pitch and it is clear, after a busy summer of spending, that defence is the only department they are left wanting.

The 25-year-old, Kana-Biyik, only has a year left on his current deal at Rennes and is thought to be keen on a switch to the Premier League club.