West Ham transfer news: Slaven Bilic looking to buy British in January after foreign summer signings flop
West Ham signed a number of foreign players in the summer, but none of them have made their mark in east London
WEST Ham boss Slaven Bilic is looking to buy British this January because of the amount of foreign flops signed in the summer - with Jermain Defoe topping his list of targets.
The Hammers are trying to ship out five players brought in the previous transfer window who have failed to make an impact at the London Stadium.
They include Juventus loanee Simone Zaza, Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri, ex-Liverpool ace Alvaro Arbeloa, winger Gokhan Tore and winger Sofiane Feghouli.
And West Ham chiefs are worried about making the same mistakes this coming January, so will look to add to their home-grown talent pool.
A Hammers source revealed: “We are looking to buy British in the winter as we feel they are less of a gamble and don't need time to adapt.
“We feel the team needs more British players. We had a desperately poor summer window and we need some new faces in.
“There is no appetite for the foreign market after what's happened. It's just not worth the club taking that risk this January.
“A lot of players need a season and we don't have time for that. This cuts down the options we can go for, but we will try and achieve it wherever possible.”
One British star Bilic is hoping to bring back to West Ham is Sunderland goal-machine Defoe.
The Hammers have been looking to sign a striker since the summer, after Zaza failed to live up to their expectations.
Sunderland are adamant they will not sell the 34-year-old, who is also attracting interest from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
Bilic is still under-pressure to turn West Ham's performances around, despite picking up seven points in their last three matches.
The Hammers boardroom have not been impressed by the team on the pitch after an incredible campaign last season.