Arsenal boosted as West Ham line up Ligue 1 ace

Arsenal have been handed a major boost in their January pursuit of West Ham’s Winston Reid, with reports from talkSPORT revealing that the Hammers are chasing a replacement in the shape of Nicolas N’Koulou.

The Irons have long claimed that their desperate to keep their New Zealand international centre-back at Upton Park, but with negotiations to extend his deal, which expires at the end of the season, stalling, a sale is looking likely.

West Ham are keen to ensure they get the best value possible for their man, with reports having suggested that offers in the region of £6m – £8m are far more tempting than the prospect of a free transfer.

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Should an acceptable bid be tabled, Sam Allardyce has lined up Marseille’s N’Koulou as the man he wants to draft in.

The Cameroon international – a former Arsenal target – has been earning rave reviews for his showings in the French top tier for some time, and has long been tipped for a move to the Premier League thanks to his physical playing style.

The 24-year-old’s value is unclear, but West Ham’s summer business has led to claims that ‘Big Sam’ will be backed in the transfer market this month.