Hammers want Sunderland outcast

West Ham could be ready to offer Sunderland‘s Connor Wickham a way out of the Stadium Light in the January transfer window, according to SportsDirectNews.

The 20-year-old striker joined the Black Cats in an £8million deal from Ipswich in 2011 and was regarded as one of England’s brightest prospects at the time.

But he has only managed one Premier League goal in 32 appearances since and it has been reported that new Sunderland boss Gus Poyet will be looking to offload the Hereford-born youngster in January.

And Hammers boss Sam Allardyce could see Wickham as a viable option to help provide back up to the injured Andy Carroll and offer him a much needed Premier League lifeline by bringing him to Upton Park.

Of all the targets the Hammers have been linked with ahead of the January window, including the likes of Jermain Defoe and Demba Ba, Wickham is the only one that will definitely be available, which could see Allardyce make him a priority signing come January 1.

Wickham is currently enjoying his second successive loan spell at Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, which ends on January 1 2014, and scored in their 5-2 win over Reading on November 2.