West Ham close in on loan move for Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh

West Ham are closing in on their second signing of the transfer window with the Arsenal forward Marouane Chamakh set to join the club on loan.

After completing the permanent transfer of Joe Cole from Liverpool on a free, West Ham believe it is good business for Chamakh, 28. Arsenal will subsidise the transfer by paying part of his £65,000-a-week wages.

The striker has been a flop at Arsenal since signing from Bordeaux, scoring only eight league goals in 40 games.

He will act as cover from Carlton Cole while Andy Carroll returns from his latest injury. Cole is out of contract in the summer and Sam Allardyce wants more firepower as the club fight to stay out of trouble.

It is not expected that Chamakh will sign in time for the FA Cup deadline of mid-day, which will rule him out of Saturday’s showpiece tie against Manchester United. They are, however, hopeful he will be match fit for key league matches away to Sunderland and at home to QPR.

Chamakh has come under fire from Arsenal fans for his performances and he missed a penalty in the loss to Bradford in the Capital One Cup.

The target man has one league title medal from his time at Bordeaux, who lifted the crown in 2009 with the Moroccan top scorer. He has played 61 times for his country, scoring 17 goals.