West Ham are offering £20million for Celtic star striker Moussa Dembele, it is understood.
The London club's board are backing Slaven Bilic and have handed the Hammers boss the necessary funds to sink his teeth into the January transfer window.
Peter Lawwell, Celtic's chief executive, considers Dembele to be worth a lot more, however, and so it is likely West Ham's bid will be unsuccessful.
West Ham are desperate to sign a striker and bid £6m for Sunderland's Jermain Defoe u2012 an offer that was turned down by the North East club.