WEST HAM have revealed that they made a last-ditch effort to bring in a second striker on transfer deadline day, only for the player to reject the move.

Terms were agreed with the club in question, although a deal could not be struck with the player, leaving manager Gianfranco Zola with just two first-team strikers at his disposal, in the shape of Carlton Cole and new signing Alessandro Diamanti, who arrived from Livorno last week.

The club's only piece of business on the final day of the window was the sale of defender James Collins to Aston Villa for a fee believed to be in the region of £5million.

According to West Ham's official website, the club are now in pursuit of an out-of-contract forward that they have been monitoring over the last month to bolster the attacking department.