Dean Ashton has been persistently linked with the Hammers, who are attempting to bolster their firepower for the Premiership run-in. They have already failed with a £5million bid, and are now prepared to offer serious or, in the words of Wigan boss Paul Jewell, silly money, to get the England under-21 star.
With Nigel Worthington's squad already at full stretch, it is highly unlikely that he would let Ashton go without having an adequate replacement lined up. neil Mellor, who has dropped down the pecking order since the likes of Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes arrived at Anfield, but who scored some crucial goals early in the Anfield club's run to Champions League glory, is the latest name to be mentioned.
Mellor has been linked with several Championship clubs recently, while City have been linked with a number of strikers including the pricey Cameron Jerome and resurgent Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler.