The chance of signing a right back this January look increasingly slim to none after David Sullivan bigged up Sam Byram on the official website in his view from the boardroom feature. We are hearing no right back names in Claret and Hugh towers indicating there are no targets for this window. New signing Fonte and James Collins can play in the right back position as cover if required.

Reports that we are about to make a £8m-£10m bid for Hull’s Robert Snodgrass seem wide of the mark, claims that the Hammers have had three previous official bids £3m, £5m and £6m turned down are somewhat creative. There has been interest but we are hearing the board are unwilling to enter a dutch auction to push up the price of the 29 year old playmaker and a deal seems unlikely.

There is positive news that a deal for Brentford’s Scott Hogan is moving in the right direction but is not as nailed on as some reports would suggest. Claret and Hugh have been told: “There are no certainties even at this stage but the odds in favour of him coming are moving upwards.”

Payet is in the news again with Sky Sports and the Daily Mirror suggesting a loan deal could be Hammered out between West Ham and Marseille for the next six months with an option to buy in the summer. West Ham rejected a third bid from Marseille worth £23m and it is unlikely Marseille could meet the terms of  a loan deal unless a ridiculous loan fee was paid. The Payet saga is likely to run down to transfer deadline day.