West Ham are waiting for a response from Arsenal to an audacious bid to take captain Thomas Vermaelen on loan.
The Belgium international defender has been unable to break into the Gunners’ first team this season as Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have been outstanding as a centre-back pair.
Vermaelen has made just 12 appearances this season, despite being skipper, with a World Cup just months away.
Allardyce has moved for the 28-year-old, with West Ham having kept just three clean sheets in their last 13 games.
The Hammers are are also waiting for Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott to decide on whether he actually wants to move to Upton Park, having already agreed to a loan deal until the end of the season with a three-year option thereafter.