Big Sam's Italian job

West Ham are being linked with a move for a mystery Juventus player after Sam Allardyce was apparently spotted meeting staff of the Serie A club.

Sky Sports Italia are reported to have caught the United boss speaking with Juventus director Fabio Paratici earlier today, leading to speculation that Big Sam is looking at one of La Vecchia Signora's wantaway wingers.

Two names already mooted as potential targets are Dutch international Eljero Elia and the former CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic.

25-year-old Elia was recently linked with a move to Liverpool after becoming frustrated at a lack of opportunities with the currnet Serie A champions, who won the Scudetto for the first time in nine years last season.

Despite featuring for the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa his lack of playing time at Juve - Elia made just five appearances for the club all season having signed from Hamburg in a €9million switch - led to his exclusion from Bert van Marwijk's Euro 2012 squad.

Meanwhile 27-year-old Krasic, a right-sided winger with an explosive turn of pace fared little better in 2011/12, making only a handful of starts for the Serie A champions in his second season at the club.

Having signed from CSKA in August 2010 for a fee circa €15million, the Serb was an almost ever-present in his first season at the Juventus Stadium but fell out of favour and was linked with both Chelsea and Tottenham in January of this year.

He opted to remain in Turin but was soon left to rue his decision after he failed to win his place back in Antonio Conte's first team reckoning.

Allardyce, who is also reported to have met with representatives of other clubs whilst in Italy has also been linked with Inter's 19-year-old Dutch striker Luc Castaignos and Juve's 29-year-old forward Fabio Quagliarella.