Irons still keen on Lukaku

West Ham refuse to give up hope that they can attract Romelu Lukaku to the club.

The Hammers were the first club in for the player when he finished his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion at the end of the 2012-13 season.

And they were on the case again before he opted to join Everton on a 12 month loan deal last summer.

But now with his profile so high after two power-packed seasons which has seen him score 32 goals in 66 games, the player is keen to advance himself on the world stage.

A Hammers source was entirely honest in his assessment of the situation with ClaretandHugh this morning after the club had been in talks with the player and his advisers.

He said: “We are still interested but he doesn’t seem he has a real interest in joining us. It seem he wants Champions League football.”

The club will continue to make efforts to persuade the player that he and Andy Carroll can provide the power which could push the club into Europe.

But realistically the player is more likely to find himself in Europe where several clubs are expressing an interest with Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg leading the race for his signature.