'Every time we go to sign someone, someone else comes in and f****** takes them!' Allardyce fumes at Everton pinching Traore



Sam Allardyce launched an astonishing four-letter outburst at Everton after they hijacked his bid to take Lacina Traore from Monaco on loan for the rest of the season.

Asked if he would be making any signings in the January transfer window after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Upton Park on Tuesday, he said: 'I wouldn’t have a clue.



'Every time we go to sign someone, someone else comes in and f****** takes them.’

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Sam Allardyce describe the January transfer window as mad



One that got away: West Ham thought they had signed Lacina Traore but he went to Everton instead

Brisk: Sam Allardyce was fuming at the change of heart and admits to not knowing who they will sign

The West Ham manager had even appeared at the work permit hearing in an effort to convince the Home Office to grant the Premier League strugglers a work permit to play Traore for the rest of season.

But Everton stunned them on Friday night with a last-ditch bid for the 6ft 7in striker.



He underwent a medical at the club’s Finch Farm training base on Sunday and was granted a work permit on Tuesday.

Allardyce bemoaned his side's defending and referee Chris Foy's decision not to award a penalty when Ravel Morrison and Joleon Lescott tangled in the box.

'When you let Negredo in with a free header in the first minute at the far post, there's nobody else to blame but your defenders,' the Hammers boss added.

Spotted: Everton target Lacina Traore was snapped with the club's driver (left) in a supermarket on Sunday

'We got a really good response off that when Kevin (Nolan) scored, but unfortunately that was offside.

'We should have had a penalty in the second half. There's no doubt about that, but the way things are going for me, I think if one of Man City punched one of our players in the face in the box we wouldn't get a penalty.'

West Ham's focus now turns to their fight for Premier League survival, something Allardyce believes hinges on the fitness of his players and new signings.

Ricardo Vaz Te, Guy Demel, Joey O'Brien, George McCartney and Winston Reid are all nearing returns.

'If you give me all them fit from as quickly as possible until the end of the season, I think we'll come out of this,' Allardyce said.