West Ham Transfer News: Everton's Heitinga Rejects Hammers Switch

Premier League strugglers West Ham United have seen a deal for Everton's Johnny Heitinga fall at the final hurdle after the Dutch defender rejected a transfer to Upton Park.

The Hammers had agreed a deal with the Toffees to sign Heitinga, 30, but the player has had a change of heart. Explaining his U-turn, Heitinga told the BBC:

"You have to be convinced that you are taking the right step and I was not. It is not about the money because that was not the problem with a move to West Ham. I'm confident I will find another club before 31 January."

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is without James Collins, Winston Reid and James Tomkins through injury, so there are no natural central defenders available. Fullbacks George McCartney and Joey O'Brien have joined holding midfielder Alou Diarra in covering for recent games. Now Heitinga's proposed transfer has fallen through, relegation-threatened West Ham must look elsewhere to solve their injury crisis. A January transfer is still on the cards for Heitinga, however, as he looks to win his place back in the Netherlands national squad before the World Cup. In other Hammers news, Championship promotion contenders QPR want to sign striker Carlton Cole. The 30-year-old's short-term deal in East London expires on 13 January and Hoops manager Harry Redknapp wants Cole to move across the capital.