West Ham United are stepping up their pursuit of Livorno midfielder Antonio Candreva.

Former Livorno star Alessandro Diamanti made the move to London towards the end of the transfer window and has had a strong start to his Premier League career.

Curiously, his replacement in the Livorno squad could now be about to join him at the Boleyn ground.

Candreva, co-owned with Udinese, was a midfielder, but moved up into the trequartista role behind the strikers and has been by far the Amaranto's best player so far this season.