West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that he is looking to strengthen his defence during the January transfer window.

The Hammers are currently struggling with injuries, with Guy Demel, James Tomkins and Winston Reid the club’s only fit, senior defenders.

Allardyce admitted that the depth of his squad has been exposed in recent weeks, and went on to state that he needs to make some additions this month:

"I've got to strengthen our defensive areas, it's less than the bare bones at the moment.” He is quoted by Sky Sports.

He went on to suggest that it may be difficult to sign players with other clubs knowing of his need to bring in fresh faces:

"What you don't want to be is like what we are, which is a little desperate because of our injury problems. At this stage of the season it's 'Call My Bluff'. You say no, they say no and then you sit and wait and bite your fingernails and hope they change their mind and say yes.

"That's why so much happens in the last week of the January transfer window. It's more expensive at this stage of January than it is at the latter stage of January."

Allardyce has been linked with a number of defensive players in recent weeks, with the left-back position in particular a cause for concern.

Current first-choice George McCartney is currently side-lined through injury leaving Allardyce short of options.

He has been linked with moves for Stephen Warnock of Aston Villa and Blackburn’s Martin Olsson.

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