West Ham are still keen to talk with Barcelona and Alex Song about the possibility of a permanent move to the club.

Whilst there has been disappointment at the player’s loss of form since Christmas, the owners remain keen to retain his services on the right terms.

The player is currently on a wage of £70k a week and that will have to be carefully balanced against Barca’s required fee but that could be lower than expected as the club are keen to unload.

Some reports this morning claim that the club has cooled on a deal but ClaretandHugh was told: “That’s not the case. He is a top player and a loss of form is more noticeable in the case of such guys.

And he quipped: “It doesn’t hurt the case when we come to discuss figures and deals. I’d imagine talks will start with Barca a couple of games before the end of the season.”

Song has yet to make his own end of season position clear although he has regularly claimed that a permanent stay is quite possible.