West Ham striker Javier Hernandez is a January target for new MLS club Los Angeles FC.

Hernandez joined the Hammers from Bayer Leverkusen for £16million last summer and scored twice in his second match of the season, a 3-2 loss at Southampton.

But the 29-year-old has scored only twice more and his first-team starts have become more sporadic. Last Sunday, against League One Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, he was in the first XI but was again ineffective and substituted in the second half.

West Ham manager David Moyes has preferred to play wide men Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio up front rather than Hernandez. The striker has scored 49 goals in 99 appearances for Mexico and must be concerned that his poor season will damage his chances of appearing for his country in this summer’s World Cup Finals in Russia.

Los Angeles FC were formed in 2014 but this is their first season in the MLS and the attraction of signing Hernandez is clear given the city has a big Mexican community.

The fee, though, could be a major problem given that West Ham would want to recoup at least most of the £16m they paid for him.

Another stumbling block could be that, given Diafra Sakho’s likely exit from West Ham this month, the club would need to sign at least one replacement, should another of their strikers leave in January.

There was speculation last summer that LA were interested in the former Manchester United forward but he returned to the Premier League, signing for then manager Slaven Bilic at West Ham.

Defender Reece Oxford could be sold to Borussia Monchengladbach this month if they meet West Ham’s £15m asking price. The Hammers rejected an £8m offer for 19‑year‑old, who spent the first half of the season on loan at the Bundesliga club.

Anderlecht’s £20m-rated midfielder Leander Dendoncker has been linked with West Ham but is not thought to be one of their chief targets.