West Ham are in the market for a new centre-half in January.
Summer signing Kurt Zouma is facing months on the sidelines after scans confirmed he damaged a hamstring tendon in Saturday's 3-2 win against Chelsea.
And with Zouma's setback coming just a month after Angelo Ogbonna suffered a season-ending cruciate ligament injury, West Ham's need for reinforcements next month has increased further.
The Daily Mail says manager David Moyes is a long-term admirer of Marseille's Duje Caleta-Car and Burnley's James Tarkowski.
Hertha Berlin's Niklas Stark also emerged as an option. Both Tarkowski and Stark are heading into the final six months of their contracts.