West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that he was disappointed that his side could not secure a deal for Romelu Lukaku during the summer.

The Belgium international joined Everton on loan until the end of the season instead of the Hammers and scored the match-winning goal for the Toffees in their clash at Upton Park.

Allardyce told reporters: "I had been talking to Jose [Mourinho] all summer, will he want him? It was no, no, no, until Demba Ba decided to stay.

"Then there was a quick switch around and Everton got in there before us. That's the way the cookie crumbles, as they say."

West Ham are currently 14th in the Premier League after five games this season.

Written by
Simon Sinclair