Reports this morning that West Ham could sign free agent Yaya Toure this year are wide of the mark we understand.

Despite new Premier League rules West Ham could potentially sign a free agent at any stage as long as the player in question was out of contract when the summer transfer window closed.

Toure was released by Manchester City at the end of last season after eight years at the Etihad Stadium and has been heavily linked with a move to West Ham because of his previous connection to Pellegrini.

West Ham do have one remaining slot in their squad of twenty five but a club insider revealed to Claret and Hugh that the wage budget is already ‘smashed to bits’ and ‘there so nothing left in it’ so there was no chance.

Pellegrini said in his pre-match conference this afternoon “Yaya is a very good player. In his position at the moment we have very good players. He will always be a good player in any team but right now our squad is ready.”