Hammers manager Sam Allardyce is interested in bringing former Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers defender Christopher Samba back to the Premier League, according to Izvestia.
The Congolese centre-back joined QPR in a high-profile £12million from Russian side Anzhi in January but made an immediate return to the mega-rich Russians this summer after failing to help the London side avoid relegation.
But Anzhi chiefs revealed last month that their entire first-team was up for sale, paving the way for Allardyce to move for the 29-year-old, who he also managed at Blackburn.
However, the Hammers will have to reduce their wage-bill significantly if they are to tempt Samba back to London, especially now the club have admitted they have reached the wage limit outlined by the new Financial Fair Play regulations.
Samba would also need to take a huge wage cut from the reported £100,000 he was earning at QPR, but it is believed he is eager for a move back to England as his family remained there after he returned to Russia in June.
