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Reports in The Sun on Sunday at the weekend said West Ham United are interested in signing young Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin ahead of the January transfer window, and Irons wide man Grady Diangana should take it as a warning from Manuel Pellegrini.

What's the word?

The Hammers were busy in the summer window as new manager Manuel Pellegrini recruited nine new faces.

The results on the pitch have been mixed, but the team have shown signs of progression thanks to some individual performances.

One summer signing who was finding his feet was Andriy Yarmolenko, but the winger suffered a devastating blow when he picked up an Achilles injury.

The Ukrainian is expected to be on the sidelines for around six months, which may lead Pellegrini to dip into the January market.

According to a recent report in The Sun on Sunday (October 28, page 59), the East London outfit have joined Cardiff City in pursuing Nice winger Saint-Maximin.

Is it a message to Diangana?

Pellegrini placed his faith in the 20-year-old by handing him his first Premier League start in Yarmolenko's absence in the 1-1 draw with Leicester City last weekend, and it seems as though he may get the opportunity to cement his spot in the starting XI in the coming weeks and months.

While he perhaps didn't make the biggest impact at the King Power Stadium, Diangana still has until January to make an impact and the latest report surrounding Saint-Maximin suggests that the Chilean manager is already looking at potential options to bring to the club in the New Year.

The link may well be a warning to Diangana to ensure that he takes the opportunity that he has been given, otherwise he could find himself out of the side and perhaps even the squad after the January window closes.