Keane tempts West Ham

07 January 2011 20:00

West Ham are looking to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham as manager Avram Grant targets three new players to save the club's season.

Keane has been told he can leave White Hart Lane in the January transfer window but Spurs want to sell the striker, who went out on loan to Celtic this time last year.

The Hammers are currently in talks with Tottenham about the player but, given the financial constraints at Upton Park, a loan deal may be more preferable to Grant.

The Hammers are also targeting a left-back and Grant was disappointed to miss out out on signing midfielder Steve Sidwell, who is now bound for Fulham. West Ham are struggling with injuries. Ten of their 25 registered players were injured ahead of the Boxing Day win at Fulham.

Grant's men returned to the foot of the Barclays Premier League table with Wednesday's 5-0 defeat at Newcastle and he needs fresh blood as a matter of urgency.

"We need a stronger squad. We have a lot of long-term injuries and we will do everything to make the squad stronger because we need it, otherwise it will not be easy to continue like this," Grant said.

West Ham face Barnsley in the FA Cup third round on Saturday and then Birmingham - also linked with Keane - in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan hold a board meeting the following day, leading to speculation that Grant has the two cup games to save his job. But the Israeli met Gold at the training ground on Friday and is confident he has the owners' full backing.

"To live in this club is to live with the rumours. It is a matter of what your boss is telling you and I have a good relationship with the owners. I don't think they are shy guys to tell me something else. One of them (Gold) is here and we are only concentrating on how to make the squad stronger," Grant said.

"When you sign a manager you sign up to a philosophy and you have to know what you are doing. In this club we know what we are doing, we know our vision for the short and long term. Despite all that has happened we will continue with our vision. My way will stay the same way. I will not change."

Source: PA