The Hammers are understood to have made a bid for MK Dons striker Sam Baldock after manager Sam Allardyce watched him score four goals in two games this week.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is set to swoop for MK Dons striker Sam Baldock this week as he looks to strengthen his attacking options.

The Hammers had been linked with Gabon international forward Eric Mouloungui and the 27-year-old was expected in London this week.

However, Mouloungui stated earlier this week that he was keen to stay at French First Division outfit Nice.

That has prompted Allardyce to turn his attention back to England and towards Baldock, who the West Ham boss has watched twice in the last week.

The 22-year-old has certainly impressed in those two games. He scored a hat-trick for the Dons in the 6-2 thrashing of Chesterfield on Saturday, while Allardyce was present at Carrow Road when he was on the mark again in the surprise 4-0 Carling Cup drubbing of Norwich City.

Milton Keynes accepted a bid of �1.5million from Peterborough United for the player during the summer, but Baldock was not impressed by what he saw at London Road when he met manager Darren Ferguson and pulled out of the deal.

MK Dons are expecting more bids for the player in the next week though and it seems that the Hammers have already had a �1.5m bid rejected.

The five feet five inch, nippy striker seems to be ideal for the West Ham squad, and he seems to be a cheaper option than previous targets Max Gradel of Leeds United and Nicky Maynard of Bristol City.

Mouloungui, meanwhile, is a taller, rangier striker, but it seems that he was West Ham’s original first choice to come in.

However, the Nice player commented on a French website: “I do not want to leave, but it is true that staying in my situation is complicated.

“I talked with the President and we want to find the best solution for the team and me.”

West Ham may still offload players before the end of the transfer window with Scott Parker’s departure the obvious one.

QPR and Aston Villa have declared an interest, but Tottenham and Arsenal remain in the wings.

Meanwhile, Burnley are interested in adding Junior Stanislas to their squad after signing Zavon Hines for an undisclosed fee last week.