West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has conceded that the club cannot afford Nicolas Anelka's wages.
The Hammers are known to be interested in signing the French striker, after he expressed his desire to leave currents employers Shanghai Shenhua.
Despite being keen on a move for the player, Allardyce is unsure whether or not they will be able to agree a deal with Anelka.
"Nicolas is an outstanding centre-forward," said Allardyce.
"He's a great goalscorer. It would be great to have him here but there's always that one thing that holds it back and that's money. It would be lovely to have him but whether it's affordable for us another matter.
"Finance dominates and we can only spend what we can afford and what the chairmen can find."
Anelka joined Shenhua in the January transfer window last year.
