Speaking exclusively with Football FanCast, former England international Carlton Palmer says that West Ham United would be taking a backward step by signing AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko.

The Irons have been linked with a swarm of attacking options since selling Sebastien Haller to AFC Ajax earlier this month, with that decision leaving Michail Antonio as David Moyes’ sole remaining senior centre-forward.

Reports over the weekend touted Dzeko as the latest in the long line of strikers to be linked with a potential mid-season move to the London Stadium, with claims from Italy suggesting the Bosnia and Herzegovina star had been offered to West Ham.

Dzeko’s future at the Stadio Olimpico was thrown into doubt after the Bosnia and Herzegovina star was stripped of the Giallorossi captaincy after a falling out with head coach Paulo Fonseca, with their relationship now in complete tatters.

West Ham were not alone in being linked with Dzeko as Everton, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers were also credited with an interest.

Palmer thinks Moyes and his side should look elsewhere ahead of February 1’s deadline, as Dzeko is coming toward the end of his career and he thinks that his usefulness would be limited.

When asked if it would be a good move for West Ham, he said:

“No, not really. No. I think you've seen the best of him when he was last in the Premier League. That wouldn't be a good move at all. It's a backward step that,” Palmer told FFC.

“No disrespect to Dzeko, we all get to that stage where you just become, I wouldn't say become a journeyman, but you’re past your best. You can still do a job, but you're not going to, let's say, set the world on fire as what you did before.

“So, no, not a good move, in my opinion.”

Dzeko has scored seven goals in 15 Serie A appearances this season, of which he started 14, but he was omitted from the matchday squad that beat Spezia Calcio 4-3 on Saturday following his falling out with Fonseca.

The £7m-rated veteran further found the back of the net once and provided one assist over the Giallorossi’s Europa League Group Stage efforts, having been called upon only from the bench against the likes of BSC Young Boys, CSKA Sofia and CFR Cluj.

No current West Ham player has scored as often this season as Dzeko with Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Antonio the top-scorers in Moyes’ squad with five strikes each across all competitions, while Haller had found the back of the net seven times before his £20m move to Ajax.

But only three of Haller’s goals had come during Premier League fixtures, while Bowen, Soucek and Antonio are yet to score outside of the top-flight this term.

Despite him having more goals than any current Hammer, Palmer thinks West Ham should forget about Dzeko and look elsewhere for a new forward.

AND in other news, West Ham see bid rejected for £13.5m-rated target who’s played just 88 minutes of league action this season…