Big Sam going double Dutch?

West Ham are still hoping to take young Dutch striker Luc Castaignos on loan for the season, according to reports emanating from Italy today.

Respected journalist Gianluca Di Marzio revealed earlier today today that United are closing in on a deal to take the 19-year-old Internazionale striker on loan for the season with view to a permanent contract at the end of that commitment - a figure reported to be in the region of €8million.

And according to Di Marzio, Sam Allardyce is hoping to make it a double-whammy by also landing Juve's Eljero Elia on similar terms.

Allardyce, who was spotted in Italy last week - as previously reported here on KUMB - is hoping to sign several new players in addition to the three already captured on a permanent basis since the end of last season - Stephen Henderson, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Momo Diame.

With transfer fees unlikely to spent on anyone but established Premier League players - such as Norwich striker Grant Holt for whom a new bid is reported elsewhere to have been made - United will look to take as many players as possible on a loan basis in order to minimise the financial burden this term.

Both Castaignos and Elia landed big money moves to Italy in 2011 - striker Castaignos moving from Feyenood for €3million and his fellow countryman from Hamburg for €9million. Neither have been in the first team picture for their club sides in recent months.