Fulham lead 5m chase for forgotten forward Zamora

West Ham are prepared to sell Bobby Zamora in the January transfer window but only if their valuation of 5m is met. Fulham and West Bromwich Albion have shown the keenest interest in the 26-year-old striker but, as yet, no club has submitted a formal bid.

With a host of others, including Reading, Derby County and Sunderland monitoring developments, it appears that a bidding war is likely for Zamora, who was West Ham's top scorer last season but has struggled in this campaign mainly because of injury.

West Ham are not necessarily looking to sell Zamora, who arrived in January 2004 from Tottenham Hotspur as part of the 7m deal to take Jermain Defoe to White Hart Lane. But with Carlton Cole, in particular, Luis Boa Morte and the on-loan Henri Camara providing cover for their first-choice strike pairing of Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy, they will not stand in Zamora's way if terms can be agreed.

West Ham may, nevertheless, recruit another striker on loan although they have already turned down the chance of signing Milan Baros, who is desperate to leave Lyons and move back to England.

The 26-year-old Czech international, who was a previous West Ham target when at Liverpool, has fallen out of favour at the French champions and, last month, was stopped by French police after allegedly driving his Ferrari at 170mph which would be the highest speed ever recorded in France.

But West Ham are extremely pleased with the make-up of their squad with the manager, Alan Curbishley, pointing out that through injuries, he has not come anywhere close to being able to field what would be his first-choice XI but has still managed to guide the club into a comfortable mid-table position.

Consequently they are understood to have also ruled out moves for their summer targets of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Adriano as they consolidate on what was a frantic summer.

The latter's wages, of 110,000-a-week, were prohibitive last August plus the fact that the Brazilian, although expressing interest in moving to West Ham, ultimately wanted to remain in Italy. Interest in Reading's Nicky Shorey, who was chased during the last transfer window, has also been dropped by West Ham partly because of the impressive form of George McCartney at left-back with Jonathan Spector providing cover.

It appears that West Ham are looking to trim rather than add to their squad next month with Calum Davenport, Nigel Quashie and John Pantsil, all fringe players, likely to be deemed surplus to requirements in the transfer window if a buyer can be found. As for Zamora, he is unlikely to want to make the drop down to West Brom even if the Championship side are one of the favourites for promotion.

If Zamora says no, West Brom are likely to move for Reading's Leroy Lita, who has been told he can leave after falling out of favour but is unlikely to be sold until a replacement can be found. Both Shorey and Lita have refused to sign new contracts at Reading.

Fulham have spent heavily under their manager, Lawrie Sanchez, and may balk at the asking price for Zamora, who they value at closer to 3m as do most of the other clubs vying for his signature. However, Sanchez, despite signing the strikers, David Healy, Diomansy Kamara and Shefki Kuqi, and with Brian McBride set to return in the new year from a knee injury despite a minor setback, is keen to improve his attacking options.

The Fulham owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, has already pledged that more funds will be made available to Sanchez but only as long as he starts to see improvements in the team before Christmas.