West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has hinted that he is no longer interested in Shanghai Shenhua striker Nicolas Anelka.

The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool man is rumoured to be unhappy with life in China and is desperate to return to England.

This was believed to have alerted the Hammers, who were keen to bulk up their attacking options.

However, the arrivals of Marouane Chamakh and Wellington Paulista on loan, allied with a minor injury crisis in defence, appear to have forced Allardyce to end his interest in the 33-year-old:

“At the moment I am not in a position for Nicolas Anelka because my main priority is defenders.” He is quoted by The Mirror via Sporting Life.

"We have got Andy Carroll close to coming back and we have got Carlton Cole, (Marouane) Chamakh and we have also brought in Wellington (Paulista).”

It is believed that Allardyce has highlighted a left-back as his main priority for the remainder of the January transfer window, with current first choice George McCartney sidelined through injury.

Both Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock and Blackburn full-back Martin Olsson have been heavily linked with the Londoners.

Anelka has also been linked with QPR, but with Loic Remy having recently arrived at Loftus Road it is unclear if manager Harry Redknapp will make a move.

[cat_link cat="west-ham" type="grid"]