​West Ham striker Nikica Jelavic is close to agreeing to move to Chinese second tier side Beijing Ren He, according to Sky Sports.





The news comes just hours after it emerged that another Chinese club was preparing a £38m offer for Hammers winger Dimitri Payet.

Sky Sources: West Ham striker Nikica Jelavic close to agreeing deal to join Chinese second division side Beijing Ren He #SSNHQ — Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) February 9, 2016

And while West Ham are reportedly set to offer Payet an improved contract in a bid to ward off any interest in the Frenchman, there is unlikely to be any resistance where Jelavic is concerned.





The 30-year-old only arrived at Upton Park in September, but the Croatian has started just three times under his former national team boss Slaven Bilic, scoring two goals in total.





The Hammers are currently without injured Senegal striker Diafra Sakho, but Andy Carroll's return to contention, as well as their January capture of Emmanuel Emenike on loan, has pushed Jelavic even further down the pecking order.

Chinese clubs have spent more on transfers than any other nation in 2016, with Ramires, Jackson Martinez and Alex Teixeira among the biggest captures so far.





And with the Chinese window remaining open until the end of the month, Jelavic is unlikely to be the last player to move east in the coming weeks.

Follow 90min's senior correspondent @aidencusick on Twitter