Source: Daily_Mail
Zola eyes a double: strikers Diamanti and Chamakh 'ideal' for Hammers boss
West Ham are hoping to add the signing of Livorno's Alessandro Diamanti to that of fellow striker Marouane Chamakh of Bordeaux next week.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has only one experienced forward available in Carlton Cole and said another two front men would be 'ideal'.
Centre half James Collins, who has attracted interest from Stoke and Aston Villa, would be sold to fund the spending.
Zola was reluctant to discuss any new signings yesterday, preferring to concentrate on tomorrow's Premier League clash with high-flying Tottenham Hotspur, but the Italian quashed speculation that he threatened to quit West Ham after being left out of transfer decisions.
Zola said he trusts chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani to identify players and carry out transfer negotiations, insisting his job is to work with his squad on the training ground.
'I came here to work on the pitch, that is my main concern. That's what I've been doing for 11 months. That is what I want to do,' he said.
'Obviously if somebody has to be sold or bought, they ask me. But I don't want to interfere in other things because I believe my main strength is to work helping the players.
'The project was to build on this team, to work on these players, to make it better, improve them and also to make the opportunity for some younger players to come through.
'Last year I thought it worked very well. But this year, obviously, we wanted to improve. We are working very hard, It's not finished yet.'
