Tottenham and West Ham target Simone Zaza not leaving Juventus in January, insists Allegri

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have been told Simone Zaza will not be leaving Juventus during the January transfer window.

Zaza, 24, joined Juventus during the summer transfer window after the Bianconeri exercised their option to repurchase the forward from domestic rivals Sassuolo. Prior to that move, Tottenham attempted to muscle their way into the deal, making an offer €18m (£13m, $19.3) for the forward, according to Sassuolo's club director Giovanni Carnevali.

While Juventus won his signature, manager Massimiliano Allegri has used him sparingly this season, handing him just 11 appearances. His limited game time has seen him linked with a move to Premier League with West Ham and Bournemouth also linked with ambitious loan moves.

Allegri however insists he has no intention of allowing the player to leave. "First of all, Zaza has grown a lot and is doing well at Juventus. I don't understand why he'd leave, and why there is this chatter," Allegri said in a press conference, Football Italia report.

"He is a player with great quality, who has improved a lot and is important for us. It is right that he stays with us. As I always say, in a big team, you need a pool of top strikers, top midfielders and top defenders. So we can't think about two top strikers and two who are on a lesser level.

"The levels must be balanced and we have four strikers with great quality, who are good together and are fighting for places."

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to add another forward to his ranks in January, with Harry Kane his only out-an-out centre forward. With Clinton N'Jie currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery, the club's need for more firepower has heightened, which could prompt the north Londoners to reignite their interest in Zaza.

According to the Daily Mail, Slaven Bilic's side have shown interest in signing the Italy international.