West Ham would have to break their wage structure in order to move for out-of-favour Everton defender Lucas Digne this month.
The Hammers are considering a move for a left-back following the injury suffered by Aaron Cresswell in November and have weighed up a deal for Digne, who is on the market after falling out with Toffees boss Rafael Benitez.
While West Ham are interested, a move seems unlikely due to the finances involved. The Hammers are reluctant to meet the wage demands of the former Barcelona man, who earns comfortably more than £100,000 a week at Goodison Park.
The east Londoners pushed the boat out in terms of wages to land Kurt Zouma from Chelsea last summer and, while the Champions League winner was a roaring success before his injury, Digne would likely cost even more and disrupt the wage structure at the London Stadium.
West Ham are not the only side considering the French international. Newcastle have shown an interest as the new owners look to flex their financial muscles following the signing of Kieran Trippier, while Chelsea are also in the hunt following an injury to Ben Chilwell that has seen the England international undergo knee surgery.
Sources at West Ham indicate that Cresswell is close to a return to action despite the lack of clarity around his back injury, lessening the need to invest in that area.
