West Ham have had a bid to sign Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car on loan rejected by the French club.
The Hammers also proposed an option to buy as part of the arrangement but the offer was rejected by the club's president Pablo Longoria.
Marseille are open to letting centre-back Caleta-Car leave this month but only on a permanent deal.
The Croatian has also been linked with Newcastle, Wolves and almost joined Liverpool a year ago.
He has 18 months left on his contract and is valued at around £15m by his French club.
Caleta-Car has gone from last season being on the bench under Jorge Sampaoli to this season being a regular starter.
Caleta-Car has been on West Ham's radar for some time including last summer before they clinched the signing of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea.
The possibility of a move for Caleta-Car has resurfaced with manager David Moyes keen to bring in another centre back, as well as striker, and Angelo Ogbonna out for the rest of the season.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com