Sam Allardyce: 'It was crucial we kept Mohamed Diame'

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has claimed that the "most important" part of the transfer window for the Hammers was keeping hold of Mohamed Diame.

The midfielder is believed to have been the subject of a bid from an unnamed Premier League club on deadline day but the London outfit managed to prevent a transfer.

"The most important thing at the end of yesterday was probably keeping hold of Mo Diame," BBC Sport quotes Allardyce as saying.

"You're always disappointed in this window, I've never been delighted at the end of a window, in January anyway. It is always ferocious in terms of what you want to do but we have done as well as we possibly can do."

The Hammers acquired the signings of defender Emanuel Pogatetz, midfielder Joe Cole and striker Marouane Chamakh during the January window.