Mail: Diame draws Reds' attention

West Ham are fighting to keep explosive midfielder Mohamed Diame, who has an escape clause in his contract and could leave the club in January.

Talks are expected this week with the players' agent but the free transfer signing from Wigan appears in no rush to sign a new deal. 

In order to lure him to West Ham in the summer, the club were forced to agree a 'trigger clause' in his contract. The size of the clause is a closely-guarded secret at Upton Park, but rival clubs are circling and prepared to pay around £6million.

The player, who was compared by Jamie Redknapp as a cross between Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira, has been drawing attention from Liverpool and Everton.

After his powerhouse performance against Chelsea at the weekend, other clubs are expected to be interested and West Ham have a fight on their hands to keep him.

Diame arrived from the bench to turn the game in West Ham's favour after they trailed 1-0. He scored in the second half and inspired a comeback that saw them win 3-1 and defeat Chelsea for the first time in ten years. He has also scored against Arsenal this season.

West Ham had a similar deal with Demba Ba, who exercised his escape clause when the club were relegated and joined Newcastle, where he has been a huge success. 

Ba has scored eight times for the club in the Premier League this season.

Source: Daily Mail