Allardyce Places Tottenham and Chelsea Strikers on January Wishlist – Report

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is desperate to sign a striker in the January transfer window and has a long list of potential candidates as he looks to drag the East London club clear of the relegation zone.

The Hammers have struggled for goals this season and find themselves fourth from bottom after another toothless display in the 3-0 loss to Chelsea at Upton Park last weekend.

Allardyce has seen his side score just nine league goals in 12 games and has come under some pressure from supporters for his unwillingness to play an out-and-out striker and instead use a 'false nine'.

With Andy Carroll still sidelined through injury, West Ham have just two other forwards at the club in the underperforming Modibo Maiga and the recently re-signed Carlton Cole, who is still returning to full fitness.

With no date yet set for Carroll's return, Allardyce is working hard to identify possible January targets and the Mirror reports that Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Chelsea's Demba Ba are on his wishlist.

Adebayor made his first Premier League appearance in Tottenham's 6-0 loss to Manchester City last weekend after falling out-of-favour under Andre Villas-Boas.

The Togolese forward has been linked with a possible January exit and Tottenham may well consider allowing the misfiring striker to leave the club on loan, though his high wages are likely to be the main stumbling block over him joining West Ham.

The Hammers were rebuffed in the summer when they attempted to bring Ba back to the club but they may well feel that he is ready to leave Chelsea after struggling to gain regular game time under Jose Mourinho.

Again a loan deal could be a very real possibility as it is unclear whether Allardyce would be given funds in January after spending heavily to purchase Carroll from Liverpool on a permanent contract.