West Ham Reject Bid For Maiga Amid Striker Shortage - Report

West Ham United have rejected a bid from St Etienne for their striker Modibo Maiga, according to reports in France.

The Mali international is currently the Hammers only striking option as Andy Carroll continues to recuperate from the heel injury that has seen him side lined since the last day of the 2012/13 season.

Having played a largely peripheral role for the club where the majority of his appearances came from the substitutes bench last season, Sam Allardyce may have considered allowing Maiga to leave the club this summer, particularly when St Etienne engaged their interest.

The Ligue 1 club are still on the lookout for an adept replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who left the club to join Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer and have followed up their interest with an official bid for the West Ham man, according to French newspaper Le Sport 10.

The French publication suggests that the Premier League club may consider allowing Maiga to return to France but will under no circumstances sanction such a deal until they have brought in adequate striking cover.

It would appear that Maiga will remain at Upton Park this season however, after Allardyce reiterated comments made by co-owner David Gold in stating there is no money left for transfers, only what can be generated through player sales.

"I've got no money left. That's it. If we wanted to bring a new player in, we would have to sell some players," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"But I'm not looking to do that because I'm happy with the squad I've got.

"I'm not panicking because we've done all our business as quickly as we possibly can."

Saturday's visit to Newcastle United provides Allardyce with the opportunity to get one over the club who sacked him after just eight months in 2008, with Alan Pardew's side still licking their wounds after a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City last Monday.