West Ham United are unlikely to pursue a deal to bring Duje Caleta-Car to the London Stadium in the final hours of transfer deadline day.

What's the talk?

That's according to a claim made by Roshane Thomas, with The Athletic journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that, despite earlier reports suggesting an agreement had been reached between West Ham and Olympique de Marseille for the transfer of the centre-back, it now appears as if the Premier League side are unlikely to continue their pursuit of the 25-year-old during the final hours of the January transfer window.

In his post, Thomas said: "West Ham are unlikely to make a move for Marseille centre-back Duje Celeta-Car in this window, The Athletic understands."

West Ham can kiss top four goodbye

With a matter of hours left on the clock before the transfer window slams shut, and West Ham still yet to make a single signing in the winter window, it looks increasingly unlikely that David Moyes will land either a new centre-back or centre-forward on deadline day - the two positions the 58-year-old himself claimed were an utmost priority for his side this month.

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As a result, West Ham have been in pursuit of Caleta-Car for a substantial portion of the current market, however, with Marseille being adamant that they would only part with the defender for an upfront figure of around £15m, and the Hammers only being prepared to take the Croatia international on a loan deal with an option to buy him next summer, the fact that the Irons' move for the centre-back now looks to be dead in the water suggests that middle ground has not been found between the two clubs.

As such, considering that it would appear as if the 25-year-old was Moyes' priority target for the position, with very few reports suggesting the club have been targeting other defenders this month, it now looks unlikely a new centre-back will be arriving at the London Stadium this month - something which would very much appear to come as a knockout blow to the Hammers' chances of securing a top-four finish this season.

In other news: West Ham now plotting deadline day swoop for £250k-p/w dynamo, fans will be baffled