Nicolas Anelka
shenhuafc.com

West Ham United are reportedly interested in bringing Nicolas Anelka back to the Premier League.

The former Chelsea forward signed for Shanghai Shenhua around a year ago in a lucrative deal and also managed to convince Blues team-mate Didier Drogba to join him at the Chinese Super League outfit in the summer.

However, the Daily Mail reports the 33-year-old has failed to settle in at Shanghai and now wants to leave Asia and return to England. The Frenchman is also in a pay-wrangle with his new club, according to the Daily Star. The reports also claim the Hammers have already held talks with the Frenchman over a return to the Premier League and a reunion with Sam Allardyce.

Anelka, who worked with Allardyce during his time at Bolton Wanderers, is a huge admirer of the manager, who has a good record of extending the careers of senior players, with Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha and Fernando Hierro being fine examples.

Nicolas Anelka during his Arsenal days
Reuters

Allardyce has been monitoring the striker's situation for some time and could move swiftly to lure him to Upton Park. Anelka, who has a history of continually swapping clubs, has played for Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea in the Premier League and also had stints at Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Turkish club Fenerbahce before moving to Shanghai.

Allardyce Thrilled with Newcastle Win

Meanwhile, Allardyce has expressed his delight at West Ham's 1-0 win over Newcastle United at St James' Park. Kevin Nolan scored the only goal of the match against his and Allardyce's former club and the manager feels it was the perfect time to play the Magpies, after their midweek Europa League trip to Belgium to face Club Brugge.

"It's a fantastic victory for us and a second away win. With Newcastle being one of the top six boys these days after last season it put some pressure on us. I said to the lads, it's a great time to come here as they played on Thursday in Europe and I experienced it myself at Bolton that the hardest game to win is the next one," Sky Sports quoted Allardyce.

"That gave us an opportunity here and we took the opportunity with both hands. It was a great performance and a great three points from us away from home, especially after losing three players through injury. I couldn't ask any more from the players," the 58-year-old added.

The win lifted the Hammers to sixth position in the Premier League, leapfrogging London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Fulham.