West Ham Look To Hijack Arsenal’s Move For Unattached Striker

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Hammers want to sign Romanian international.West Ham United are hoping to steal a deal for Arsenal target Ciprian Marica on a free transfer before the Gunners have time to do anything about it, according to the Daily Star.

Manager Sam Allardyce is desperate to add another striker to his ranks after missing out on securing loan deals for the likes of Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku and Nicklas Bendtner as well as failing to offer former striker Carlton Cole a deal after he failed to prove his fitness after being released at the end of last season.

Marica’s agent, Ioan Becali, has said that the player is likely to end up in England sooner rather than later after being released by Bundesliga giants Schalke.

“Marica is a really great striker who has already got experience in western European football and so it’s natural that big clubs are eyeing his career,” Becali told Prosport.ro.

However, there are reportedly a number of clubs looking into the possibility of taking him on board and the fact that he only found the net six times last season doesn’t seem to have put anybody off.

Shakhtar Donetsk and Italian duo Lazio and Inter Milan have been credited with an interest, though it is Arsenal who remain favourites to snap the 27-year-old up.

Becali added: “He’s close to joining Arsenal, but we have to wait for the next week.”

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