West Ham United have confirmed they are in talks with Tottenham Hostspur over the signing of midfielder Scott Parker, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been a long-term admirer of the England international, having failed in attempts to sign the midfielder in the previous two transfer windows.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of West Ham’s weekend clash with Nottingham Forest, Allardyce confirmed that talks were ongoing between the two clubs, as the London rivals look to put escalating tensions regarding the ownership of the Olympic Stadium to one side.

“I am not in talks [personally] with them but there is some dialogue going on at the moment,” Allardyce told reporters. “That is all I am aware of.”

Spurs have been in discussions with Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, as Redknapp looks to be reunited with the Frenchman who was part of his 2008 FA Cup winning side at Portsmouth.

But the former Arsenal and Chelsea player insisted yesterday that talk that a £10 million move was set to be completed was wide of the mark, and that he did not expect a deal to be finalised before the close of the window.

Tottenham’s rejuvenated interest in Parker comes less than 24 hours after the club completed two loan signings, with striker Emmanuel Adebayor arriving from Manchester City, while Iago Falque joined from Juventus.