West Ham United's search for new additions in January have received a boost after they were offered Lucas Pratto by Atletico Mineiro.
The £14m-rated striker's representatives have approached the Hammers over the possibility of taking Pratto to the London stadium when the January transfer window opens in less than 10 days' time.
However, the Daily Mail claims that West Ham are eager to recruit British-based players instead, with their most recent signing from South America - fellow forward Jonathan Calleri - sent back to parent club Maldonaldo just six months into a season-long loan after he failed to impress manager Slaven Bilic.
Pratto, who has bagged 23 goals in 61 matches for Mineiro, would likely be keen to test himself in the Premier League, but the Hammers are believed to have reservations over bringing him to the club next month, particularly after the 28-year-old's last spell in Europe ended in disaster.
The attacker spent the 2011/12 season with Italian side Genoa, but registered just three goals in 17 matches before being shipped out on loan to Argentinian outfit CA Velez.
Pratto has plied his trade with Brazilian First Division side Mineiro since January 2015 and, such has been his good form for the club, he even ousted Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain from the senior Argentina national team in three of the last six 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.
West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Atletico Mineiro striker Lucas Pratto for £14m. [via @MailFootball] pic.twitter.com/6ioNkpnMPL
West Ham, meanwhile, are also alleged to have sent a letter to England's top clubs to request permission to sign one of their star forwards on loan in the second half of the season.
The Telegraph reports that the Irons have begged the likes of Manchester United to allow either Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford to join their cause, in the last five months of 2016/17, as they plot a move away from the relegation battle at the bottom of the table.
Other targets West Ham are believed to have enquired about include Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge, who have also struggled for regular game time at their parent clubs in the first six months of this term.
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