Newspaper reports are suggesting that Glenn Roeder is looking to improve his under-strength squad by bringing in Newcastle's Chilean midfielder Clarence Acuna on loan for the rest of the season.
Today's (Saturday) Sun newspaper is linking the Hammers with a move for the out of favour 28-year-old, who has made just 44 starts in a three year spell at Newcastle.Acuna, whose current contract expires at the end of the 2003/04 season has failed to impress in the North East despite having made 55 international appearances for Chile.
Newcastle signed the South American from Universidad de Chile in 2000 for £1m, where he was a firm fans favourite.
Not so with the authorities however; the asthmatic Acuna once served a six month ban for failing a drugs test; a charge of which he later said:
"It's so unfair, all I did was take a tablet [for my asthma] which was given to me with a glass of water before a game. It was the medical staff who gave it to me and I never thought for a minute it might be a drug. I've never touched any drugs - I don't even smoke or drink."
We'll have more news on this as the story develops ...
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