Meireles offered to the Irons
Currently at Fenerbache, the Portuguese star, 31, who is with his national squad in Brazil, is available at a knockdown three million euros.
However, he is on wages of around £2.5 million a year wages which is likely to be too rich for the Irons blood.
ClaretandHugh was told exclusively : “The player has definitely been put into the club but we expect the wages to be a problem even though the fee is very cheap for a player of his quality.”
Merieles had an impressive season at Anfield in 2010-11 and won the national Fans Player of the Year before moving onto Chelsea where he picked up Premier and Champions League winners medals.
However, he was again on the move after a season heading for Turkey and Fenerbache where he has found plenty of trouble.
He was was handed an eleven-match ban by the Turkish Football Federation for spitting at a referee.
The alleged actions following accusations of homophobic remarks after he received a second yellow card in the second half of a 2–1 away defeat to rivals Galatasaray.
A Hammers source explained to CandH: “His wages would be very big and he also falls outside of the ‘no over 27s’ rule put in place buy the board.