West Ham can compete for Alex Song signature - Allardyce

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says the club are more than capable of beating off rivals for Alex Song’s signature in the summer.

The Barcelona midfielder has been on loan at West Ham this season and has enjoyed a good campaign in the familiar surroundings of the Premier League. But Allardyce is determined to see the player extend his stay beyond this summer and sign permanently with the club.

“I think that next year is next year’s budget and there’s a considerable amount of fund available next season,” he replied when asked if West Ham could be priced out of a move,” Allardyce said as reported by ITV Sport.

“They can’t be spent this season because we’re at the extreme of that budget but next year is a completely new budget.

“So, affordable? It depends on what Barcelona are looking for and what Alex is looking for, that negotiation will happen at some stage in or around that period.”

Alex Song spent two season at the Camp Nou after signing from Arsenal, but was unable to secure a regular place in the team. It was thought that former Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta acquired the Cameroon international as a last resort after being turned down in his attempts to land Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao.

But Song is likely to be sold this summer by the Catalans, even though they have been prevented from buying players until next year. The recent addition of Ivan Rakitic and the possibility of playing Javier Mascherano in his preferred midfield positions means Song will struggle to get games at Barcelona.

Alex Song had been linked with a move to Man United recently, as reported by The Independent. While Liverpool have also thrown their name into the running for the player’s signature this summer, claimed by the Daily Star.