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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is plotting a bid for Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph.

The former England Under-21 player , who is a candidate to force his way into Roy Hodgson’s senior squad next season, has a year left on his Villa Park deal and the Hammers believe they can prise him away.

The club are carrying out a major overhaul of their squad this summer and Allardyce is keen to sign a first-choice central midfield player with Premier League experience.

Delph, 24, fits the bill and the Hammers are ready to make an offer of around £5m for a player who attracted the attention of England boss Hodgson with some fine performances in a struggling Villa team last season.

Villa are keen to tie former Leeds kid Delph to a new deal but no agreement is imminent.

West Ham have signed two midfield players in Senegalese star Cheikyou Kayate and former Charlton youngster Diego Poyet but were also keen to sign Gareth Barry, before he agreed a permanent deal with Everton this week.

Striker Mauro Zarate and defender Aaron Cresswell have also moved to Upton Park in the close season but West Ham expect to make at least three more signings before the transfer window shuts at the end of next month.

Meanwhile, Scott Hogan’s dream move from Rochdale to Leeds has been wrecked by a cash dispute. United offered £750,000 but Rochdale are demanding £2m.