West Ham are preparing for a critical January transfer window as manager Nuno Espírito Santo attempts to rescue their Premier League status.

West Ham chase new signings in bid to swerve relegation

According to recent reports, the relegation-threatened Hammers are already facing an uphill battle to attract their desired targets in what is a notoriously difficult window.

Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg reported yesterday that Man City defender Nathan Ake has rejected West Ham's loan approach, dealing a significant blow to Nuno's plans to bolster his defence.

The 31-year-old apparently has no intention of joining them despite City being open to offers, with Ake struggling for regular playing time under Pep Guardiola this season.

Finding a replacement striker also remains paramount following Niclas Fullkrug's departure to AC Milan on loan.

GiveMeSport also report that Norwich City's Josh Sargent, Union Saint-Gilloise forward Promise David, Joshua Zirkzee, Chris Wood and Troy Parrott are all options being discussed as the east Londoners desperately seek firepower to aid their survival fight.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that West Ham have bid for Viktoria Plzen striker Rafiu Durosinmi too.

West Ham are reportedly pursuing FC Utrecht left-back Souffian El Karouani as well, according to some media sources, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.

The Mirror state that Nuno is eager to complete deals early to boost the club's push for survival, with the Moroccan international available for around £3 million after surprisingly being left out of his nation's Africa Cup of Nations squad.

El Karouani even admitted himself that a move to West Ham could be on the cards next month.

As things stand, it would appear that West Ham stand a decent chance of signing the 'assist king' full-back with an incredible 15 assists and three goals in all competitions this season.

However, Fulham forward Adama Traoré looks increasingly likely to be one of the first names through the door.

West Ham set to sign Adama Traoré from Fulham

This is echoed by Spanish news outlet AS and journalist Conrado Valle, who states that West Ham are finalising the signing of Traore in a move that will reunite the winger with Nuno.

The Hammers will pay a transfer fee to secure the 29-year-old's services this January, offering him a contract covering the remainder of this season plus two additional years.

Fulham are prepared to sanction the departure next month, allowing West Ham to secure Traore's signature 'immediately' rather than waiting until his contract expires at the end of the season.

The deal represents a calculated gamble by Nuno that familiar faces can help drag his side away from the bottom three, with Traore apparently a 'specific request' from the West Ham boss.

The move will mark Traore's fifth English club since arriving at Aston Villa in 2015, having also enjoyed stints at Boro, Wolves and Fulham.

His best form in the top flight was definitely at Molineux, where he once marked himself out as one of the Premier League's most devastating dribblers.

He showed flashes of that form at Craven Cottage last season, bagging nine assists in 41 total appearances, but he's been a far less prominent name on the team sheet under Marco Silva this term.

Pep Guardiola has repeatedly praised Traore as a real threat and an incredibly difficult player to come up against, calling him 'unstoppable' when he enters spaces in behind.

His blistering pace on the counter-attack could be a useful asset to Nuno's style, but supporters will be hoping he can rediscover his best form from years past.