Sam Allardyce: 'Mohamed Diame not leaving'

Sam Allardyce has said that Mohamed Diame will not leave West Ham United in the January transfer window.

Arsenal have been linked with a bid for the 25-year-old, who joined the Hammers from Wigan during the summer.

The West Ham manager told The Sunday Times: "He won't go anywhere. He likes it here. [His improvement] is down to the challenge he's taken on. The size of a club demands a certain size of performance and we're a sell-out club, with 35,000 people, great tradition. He's responded.

"We changed his role. The ability he has to break through the opposition's midfield is rare. Other players have to pass their way through.

"That's why West Ham fans love him, those long, penetrating, weavey runs. He gets into the positions so often that if we can work on the finishing and final pass we could be talking about a really top player."

West Ham face West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.