Allardyce’s West Ham have faced problems at the back this season which has cost them points on several occasions. The Hammers want to stop leaking in easy goals, and have made signing a quality defender top priority in this month’s transfer window. They have been looking at several names, and Vermaelen is the latest name to be linked to them.

The Belgian has been playing second fiddle to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny this season, and has struggled to displace either of them. His first-team opportunities have been sporadic thus far, which have left him frustrated given the fact that the World Cup is on the horizon. As a result, a probable temporary move away from the league leaders has been touted in recent weeks, to better his chances of sealing his ticket to Brazil in the summer.

Allardyce has spoken to the media about Vermaelen and while admitting his interest in the former Ajax man, he is pessimistic about his chances of landing the Arsenal skipper. Metro report him as saying, “I think under the circumstances at Arsenal, in the position that they’re in, in the Champions League and cup matches, they’ve had to use him as soon as any of the two defenders have been injured,”

“So I don’t think there’s any chance we’ll get somebody of his quality. It would be nice if we could.”

At least Allardyce is realistic as Wenger would never let Vermaelen leave now.