Hammers interested in Keane

Soccer:West Ham are looking to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham as manager Avram Grant targets three new players to save the club's season. The Republic of Ireland captain has been told he can leave White Hart Lane in the January transfer window but Spurs want to sell the striker, who went out on loan to Celtic this time last year.

The Hammers are currently in talks with Tottenham about the player but, given the financial constraints at Upton Park, a loan deal may be more preferable to Grant. The Hammers are also targeting a left-back and Grant was disappointed to miss out out on signing midfielder Steve Sidwell, who is now bound for Fulham.

West Ham are struggling with injuries. Ten of their 25 registered players were injured ahead of the St Stephen's Day win at Fulham. Grant's men returned to the foot of the Premier League table with Wednesday's 5-0 defeat at Newcastle and he needs fresh blood as a matter of urgency.

"We need a stronger squad. We have a lot of long-term injuries and we will do everything to make the squad stronger because we need it, otherwise it will not be easy to continue like this," Grant said.

West Ham face Barnsley in the FA Cup third round tomorrow and then Birmingham - also linked with Keane - in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan hold a board meeting the following day, leading to speculation that Grant has the two cup games to save his job. But the Israeli met Gold at the training ground today - a usual Friday conversation - and is confident he has the owners' full backing.

"To live in this club is to live with the rumours. It is a matter of what your boss is telling you and I have a good relationship with the owners," Grant said. "I don't think they are shy guys to tell me something else. One of them (Gold) is here and we are only concentrating on how to make the squad stronger.

"When you sign a manager you sign up to a philosophy and you have to know what you are doing. In this club we know what we are doing, we know our vision for the short and long term. Despite all that has happened we will continue with our vision. My way will stay the same way. I will not change."

Grant said he was surprised by the speculation over his position following the Newcastle defeat, considering they had picked up eight points from a possible 12 over Christmas and New Year.

"They say you are only as good as your last result but in our last five games we drew two and we won two. One of those was at Fulham, which is a difficult place to go, and one of them was a six-pointer against Wolves," Grant added. "You have to analyse the whole situation and the owners are happy."

With the semi-final looming in midweek, Grant is likely to send out a much-changed team to face Barnsley. Youngsters Jordan Spence and Zavon Hines could both start.

"Tomorrow you will see two young players who are the future of the club," Grant said.