According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Ham United are ready to hand striker Diafra Sakho a new contract if he continues to perform.

The Senegal international's current deal is due to expire at the end of this season, and after he came close to leaving the east London outfit during the summer it seemed as though it wouldn't be extended.

However the 27-year-old, who scored in his country's crucial 2-0 2018 World Cup qualifying win against Cape Verde during the recent international break that moved them a step closer to Russia, is now staking a real claim to remain an Irons player.

As well as scoring in both of the EFL Cup wins against Cheltenham Town and Bolton Wanderers, the centre-forward scored the last-gasp winner against Swansea City at the London Stadium last time out.

Even though it was a goal that relieved some of the pressure that is continuing to build on manager Slaven Bilic, the Hammers must think carefully before they consider offering Sakho a new deal.

Here are three reasons why they shouldn't…

Injury record

Sakho may have netted a reasonable 23 goals in 62 appearances in all competitions for West Ham, but the fact that he has only played that number of matches since joining the club in 2014 shows the injury problems that have blighted his time with the Irons.

According to Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old has missed a total of 69 matches during that time, with 39 of those coming in all competitions last season.

Offering a player with those issues a new contract would certainly be a huge risk when the club already has another injury-prone attacker in Andy Carroll, and it is a chance that they shouldn't take.

Attitude

Sakho certainly would have gone downhill in the majority of West Ham supporters' estimations when he tried to force a move to Rennes towards the end of the summer transfer window.

The Telegraph reported that the 27-year-old passed a medical with the Ligue 1 outfit even though his club hadn’t agreed a deal to sell him.

Meanwhile, The Sun reported back in April that Slaven Bilic and the striker had a bust-up after the Senegal international refused to go on the substitutes' bench against Sunderland.

Those actions are not ones that should be rewarded with a new contract, and the club would be better off letting him go at the end of his contract and moving on.

Improving their squad

Rather than giving an injury-prone player in Sakho a new contract, West Ham should be looking to improve their squad – just as they did when they brought Javier Hernandez to the London Stadium during the summer.

If the Irons want to improve on an 11th-placed finish last term and start to compete for Europe, they need to add quality to their frontline and they would be better off letting the 27-year-old go at the end of the season and then bringing in an upgrade next summer.

Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.