WEST HAM have stepped up their pursuit of Bordeaux striker and Arsenal target Marouane Chamakh, according to reports.

The Mirror claims the Moroccan international has risen to the top of manager Gianfranco Zola's wish list, although the price remains a sticking point.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has pulled out of the running, preferring to wait until the forward becomes a free agent at the end of next season, while Fulham's proposal of a swap deal involving Diomancy Kamara has also been knocked back by the French side. The Hammers have reportedly offered a deal worth £5million plus a cut of any sell-on profit, but that has been turned down.

Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud is confident that Chamakh, who was last season's top scorer in the French league, will remain at the club after seeing off the threat of Arsenal: “I personally called Arsene Wenger who said he was no longer interested in buying Marouane. I think Arsenal's victory over the weekend at Everton speaks for itself.

“There is a 99 per cent chance he will stay with us. I firmly believe, and our coach Laurent Blancas well, that his best interests would be served by staying at Bordeaux.”