West Ham To Make January Swoop For SPL Starlet?

West Ham United are believed to be lining up a January raid on SPL side Hamilton Academicals for their young star Brian Easton, according to reports.

20-year-old Easton has been at the Accies since 2006 and was, a pivotal figure in helping the Scottish side win the First Division last season, with the full-back under contact at New Douglas Park until 2010.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has been told by the board at Upton Park that any signings in January will have to be funded from the sale of players at the Premiership club, with the former Chelsea player understood to have told scouts at the club to search the globe for transfer bargains.

Easton was watched by representatives of West Ham in their defeat to St Mirren recently, with glowing reports about the defender reaching Zola, who is now reportedly ready to make an offer in January, with Easton fitting the new criteria for transfer targets at the Hammers.

It is not known how much Hamilton value Easton at, but manager Billy Reid will want a sizeable fee should the East London club come calling before he allows one of Scotland’s rising young stars head South for the Premier League.