Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for West Ham under-23 left-back Emmanuel Longelo amid claims they need to significantly up their bid to land the defender.
According to the prominent West Ham website Claret and Hugh, Forest are said to want Longelo on a permanent deal but the offer has been rejected.
Forest are keen on signing a left-back and have been linked with another move for Lee Buchanan of Derby County having seen bids turned down last summer.
But Claret and Hugh, having spoken to a West Ham insider, say Forest must increase their bid amid claims that it could be linked with a move for centre-back Joe Worrall.
They report: "It’s been claimed that a deal may be linked with Forest hardman central defender Joe Worrall moving in the opposite direction but that has not been confirmed at this stage.
"The Nottingham-born 25-year-old is very much a Moyes-type player, never afraid to go in where it hurts, but the club are unlikely to let him leave this window as they stage a late bid for promotion to the Premier League."
Worrall was linked with a move to West Ham back in December with boss David Moyes reportedly a big admirer of the centre-back.
But Worrall is currently out injured having broken his ribs.
Head coach Steve Cooper said at the weekend: "He’s out for six weeks.
“He did it early on in the game against Millwall last week when he hit the post.
“If you look at his game back, some of the things he did with three broken ribs were incredible - and great testament to the guy that he is.
“Obviously we’re going to miss him for a little bit. But these things happen, and it’s next man up.”
