West Ham preparing new bid for Peterborough star

West Ham are set to make another offer for Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith.

Sam Allardyce is keen to bolster his forward line as Demba Ba has already left the club and uncertainty surrounds the future of Carlton Cole, who has been strongly linked with a move to Stoke.

With Robbie Keane having returned to Tottenham following his loan spell last season, Allardyce knows he needs more firepower if West Ham are to bounce straight back into the Premier League.

Mackail-Smith played a major role in helping Peterborough gain promotion into the Championship when he scored 35 goals last season and is keen to show he can play at a higher level.

Peterborough's director of football Barry Fry claimed earlier in the week that the club had agreed a fee with Leicester, but was expecting West Ham to come back with an improved bid.

West Ham are now hoping they can beat Leicester's offer and finalise a deal to bring Mackail-Smith to Upton Park.