Sam Allardyce has admitted he wanted to sign Connor Wickham for West Ham, but failed to force through a deal.
He said: “I don’t mind admitting I wanted Connor Wickham from Sunderland. He was under performing for them, but I felt we would play to his strengths and he would get us goals and assists the way Kevin Davies did for Bolton.
“Sunderland wouldn’t play ball though, despite us being encouraged to go for it by his agent who was sure they would let him leave for £8million. It turned out that wasn’t the case.
Ironically, Wickham was sold by Sunderland over the summer, as the forward is now playing for Crystal Palace.