West Ham Transfer News: Hammers Want Demba Ba Return?

Mirror. The Hammers have been busy in the transfer window so far, signing Andy Carroll permanently following his loan spell from Liverpool and also landing Stewart Downing earlier this week. Manager Sam Allardyce has also signed defender Razvan Rat of Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Betis keeper Adrian this summer. And now, he will look to lighten the club's bloated wage bill by offloading a number of stars before pressing ahead with his efforts to bring Ba back to Upton Park. The Senegalese striker began his Premier League career with the Hammers in 2011, after signing from Hoffenheim, but his stay was brief and, having been signed in the January window, left for Newcastle later that summer. Ba was the Magpie's joint-top scorer last season, despite leaving in another January move for Chelsea, where he has struggled, scoring just two league goals last season. And with the Blues still hoping to sign Wayne Rooney, along with the arrival of Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen and continued presence of Fernando Torres, Ba could fall down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge if he stays. West Ham have switched their attentions to the 28-year-old after making a failed effort to sign his teammate Romelu Lukaku on loan. And if the Hammers also fail with a bid for Ba, they will look to Besiktas striker Hugo Almeida. The Portuguese forward has been put up for sale by the Turkish club after refusing to take a wage cut.