By Mark Heys
January 8 2007

West Ham United have made an official approach for Bolton Wanderers in demand defender Tal Ben-Haim according to Trotters manager Sam Allardyce. The 24-year old has refused to sign a new contract at the Reebok Stadium and the Hammers have become the first club to make their interest in the Israeli international that bit more concrete.

Clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth are all said to want the player but Pompey boss Harry Redknapp did rule his club out of the running somewhat when suggesting that Ben-Haim could move to one of the league's bigger clubs.

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley does have big money to spend as was demonstrated when the Londoners splashed out £5 million to bring in attacking midfielder Luis Boa-Morte from nearby Fulham so a pre-summer swoop for Ben-Haim isn't out of reach.

However, Bolton are reluctant to let the young defender leave the Reebok Stadium at any price and whilst Wanderers cheif Sam Allardyce admits there has been interest from West Ham, he is focusing solely on the weekend visit of Manchester City.

"We've had an enquiry from West Ham, But that's all. The last thing we want is somebody going out," said Allardyce to the Bolton News

"If we can get one or more in, that would be fantastic. In the position we are in, we don't want to get too distracted by all the media speculation that revolves around the January transfer window and focus on our big game against Manchester City"

With the result at Liverpool on New Years Day aside, Bolton have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions with the most recent being a 4-0 demolition of League One side Doncaster Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup.