West Ham chase Paulo Ferreira

West Ham could make an ambitious bid for Portuguese defender Paulo Ferreira. Chelsea are ready to listen to offers for the international full-back; and along with West Ham, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Marseille and Hamburg are interested.

If Paulo Ferreira would be allowed to leave the club on a permanent deal, it is rumoured that Chelsea would let the player leave for a fee in the region of £6.5 million.

However, West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola would like to bring the player to Upton Park in January as a loan signing to help bolster his under performing defence.

Since the departure of defensive mainstay George McCartney, West Ham have slipped to some uncharacteristic results. The signing of the Portugal international could bridge that gap.