West Ham United are said to be interested in signing Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock after manager Sam Allardyce admitted that he wanted to bring a new left-back to the club.
The Hammers have enjoyed an impressive start to the season but Allardyce still feels as though he needs to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window and will be looking to find cover in defence.
![Stephen Warnock has found his opportunities limited at Aston Villa under Paul Lambert [Reuters]](http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2013/01/03/332952.jpg "Stephen Warnock")
When asked whether he would be signing a new left-back, Allardyce said: "Yes it would be. One of my priorities would be a left back if there is one possible for us to bring in."
Now Talksport believes that his number one priority is former Liverpool defender Warncok who has fallen out of favour at Villa Park under new manager Paul Lambert.
Allardyce previously worked with the left-back at Blackburn Rovers and it is believed that Warnock would be keen to seal a move away from Villa in order to find more regular first team football.
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The 31-year-old began his career at Liverpool after coming through the academy and went on to make more than 60 appearances for the club before moving to Blackburn.
He was a regular at Ewood Park and with Aston Villa last season but has spent the last three months on-loan at Bolton Wanderers where he made 13 league appearances for the Championships club.
West Ham are short of options at left-back after the news that George McCartney has been ruled out for some time with a knee injury, leaving Joey O'Brien as the only senior option for Allardyce.
Now that Warnock has returned from his loan spell at Bolton he may well be looking to secure another move away from Villa in order to continue playing regular first team football.
Warncock would offer a wealth of experience having played in the Champions League during his time at Liverpool and having been a member of the England squad that travelled to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010.
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