Lacina Traore’s potential move from Monaco to Everton has been thrown into doubt following a serious injury to Radamel Falcao.
Ivory Coast striker Traore, 23, looked likely to reject West Ham to sign for the Goodison Park club on loan until the end of the season but the deal is in jeopardy after Falcao suffered suspected knee ligament damage in Monaco’s French Cup win against Chasselay Monts d’or Azergues on Tuesday.
There are fears the injury could rule Colombian Falcao out of the World Cup.
West Ham, meanwhile, are still hoping complete a deal for Manchester City’s England defender Joleon Lescott but their priorities remain a striker and a defensive midfielder.
Hammers pair Ricardo Vaz Te and Guy Demel were expected to return from injury today in a behind-closed-doors match against Tottenham, while central defender Winston Reid is also close to a comeback.
New Zealand international Reid, whose last appearance for West Ham was on November 2 against Aston Villa, said: “I suffered a high ankle sprain and there was a ligament that was torn in there so they had to repair it by putting a screw through it to stabilise the joint.
“Now it’s pretty good to go again.”
