West Ham chairman David Gold has vowed the club "will leave no stone unturned" in their efforts to sign Tottenham striker Robbie Keane in January.The Hammers, bottom of the Premier League, signed forward Demba Ba from Hoffenheim on Friday but want Keane as well as they attempt to beat the drop.
"He is clearly available and quality players rarely are," said Gold.
"Our people will go the extra mile to try to bring in players that otherwise you wouldn't get if you didn't pursue."
West Ham have already added three new recruits in the January transfer window, with Ba following the arrival of Wayne Bridge on loan from Manchester City and Gary O'Neil joining from Middlesbrough.
The Hammers do not want to stop there and Keane is one of their leading targets - and it appears they will work right up until the transfer deadline to get their man.
Gold added: "Robbie Keane is a player we greatly admire. We see him as a potential acquisition.
"We are looking at all players that are available from top-quality clubs.
Give Keane a chance - he will do a decent job for you if you get him
thelane49
"David Sullivan [West Ham's co-chairman] was up until the early hours of the morning still pursuing targets that we have.
"It will probably go right to the wire."
Gold, who confirmed West Ham's hopes of signing Joe Cole on loan from Liverpool had ended, added that no key players will be sold this month.
"Nobody can leave. You can see our situation. We would fight off any club pursuing our players," said Gold, referring to reports that centre-back Matthew Upson is a target for his former club Arsenal.
"The next 14 games will be as important a 14 games as there have been in the history of the football club."
West Ham's plight has not been helped by intense speculation that manager Avram Grant was on the verge on being sacked, with Martin O'Neill lined up to replace him.
But Gold insisted: "I can tell you now that we have a board that is fully behind Avram.
"We have a major board meeting every two or three months and Avram's name did not come up in the meeting. I think that speaks volumes. He's our man.
I'm going to give everything to West Ham United
Demba Ba
"Avram is working as hard as you could possibly ask. He knows the requirement. His job is to keep West Ham in the Premier League. That is what his whole life and endeavours will be focused on achieving."
After Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Nottingham Forest, West Ham face vital league games against Blackpool, Birmingham and West Brom.
Grant will, at least, have new signing Ba to call on for extra firepower as he aims to steer his side to safety.
The Senegal striker failed a medical at Stoke earlier this month but he came through extensive checks on a knee problem to sign for the Hammers until 2014.
He could make his debut against Forest, although he is short of match fitness because the German league has been on a winter break.
"It was a long story but now I'm happy because it had a really good end and I am glad to be here," said Ba.
"I'm going to give everything to West Ham United. I'm definitely excited to be playing in the Premier League.
"I like to be on the pitch playing good passes with the other guys and running with the ball, rather than playing in a direct style, so I should be able to fit in well at West Ham."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport