West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has launched a furious outburst at the transfer system after he was gazumped by Everton in his attempts to sign Monaco striker Lacina Traore.

The Blues confirmed on Tuesday evening that the tall forward has been granted a work permit ahead of a switch to Goodison Park, and Allardyce was not happy about the developments.

"Every time we go to sign someone, someone else comes in and f****** takes them," the Daily Mail quotes Allardyce as saying.

"If you give me all [of West Ham's injured players] fit from as quickly as possible until the end of the season, I think we'll come out of this.

"Forty [points] is the safe zone over more than 10 years now. It's got to be 22 points minimum for me in the last 16 [games]."

West Ham were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on Tuesday.