WEST HAM MIGHT be about to add a bit of star power to their squad with the news that former Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra is close to signing a contract with the club.

Diarra has been a free agent since getting sacked by Lokomotiv Moscow in August after he refused to turn up to training. The Frenchman was linked with a move to Celtic thereafter but West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is hopeful that he can get a deal done with the 29-year-old.

“He is training with us,” Allardyce told the BBC.

“Once fit he will be a good addition. I hope, with a good few days’ training, he will be close in seven to 10 days – if he finally signs the contract.”

Diarra played at Chelsea and Arsenal without really excelling but after a brilliant year with Portsmouth he signed with Real Madrid for €20 million in January 2009.

A few years ago you wouldn’t have thought that a West Ham midfield could feature Alex Song and Lassana Diarra. The magic of Big Sam knows no bounds.

Substitute Balotelli the unlikely hero as Liverpool close in on top four

Mesut Özil pulls the strings for Arsenal while QPR move out of the bottom three