Source: Team_Talk
Hammers struggling to land strikers
West Ham's attempts to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new Premier League season appear to have stumbled on at least two fronts.[LNB] The Hammers, who will officially unveil new manager Avram Grant before the world's media at Upton Park on Thursday, have admitted defeat in their attempts to sign Germany's World Cup striking star Miroslav Klose.[LNB]In the meantime, their hopes of landing for Portsmouth loanee Frederic Piquionne from French club Lyon also hang in the balance.[LNB]Piquionne enjoyed a successful loan period with Portsmouth under Grant last season.[LNB]Newly promoted West Brom have since shown an interest in signing the striker but it is understood the player would rather team-up with Grant again at Upton Park.[LNB]A £1million deal to land Piquionne appeared to have been completed on Tuesday but the move was thwarted by differing views within Lyon.[LNB]It is understood club president Jean-Michel Aulas is happy to cash-in on the striker but coach Claude Puel wants to hang on Piquionne, who helped Portsmouth reach the FA Cup final last season.[LNB]Meanwhile West Ham's co-owner David Sullivan has admitted that a deal to land Klose is unlikely to go through following the striker's star performances in South Africa.[LNB]Klose, 32, has scored four goals for Germany as they reached the semi-finals of the competition.[LNB]Klose's club Bayern Munich were all set to let the striker quit on a free transfer after he scored just six goals in 38 appearances for the Bundesliga side last term.[LNB]But Klose's form in South Africa has left him just one goal short of Brazilian Ronaldo in the all-time World Cup scoring charts and as a result of his form, he may now look to move elsewhere in Europe.[LNB]"We had a deal in place before the World Cup, after he had a bad season in Germany. However, as a result of what he has done at the World Cup, it's unlikely to happen," Sullivan told Soccernet.[LNB]The Hammers have also played down suggestions that former Birmingham and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, now with Real Zaragoza in Spain, might be bound for Upton Park.
