Roda enquire about Sofiane

Roda JC are looking to sign West Ham's out of favour forward Youssef Sofiane.

The 20-year-old has been marginalised under Hammers boss Alan Pardew so far this season, and has already undergone two training sessions with the Dutch club.

The striker joined the East London side from Auxerre in the summer of 2002, but he failed to make an impression in a squad blessed with such attacking talent as Paolo Di Canio and Jermain Defoe at the time.

Roda officials have sounded out their West Ham counterparts and believe they have a good chance of securing the player, whose contract expires in the summer of 2006.

Coach Wiljan Vloet is believed to want to sharpen up his front line of Cristiano and Arouna Kone, as a new arrival would help keep them on their toes.

Sofiane has previously undergone loan spells with Notts County and French outfit Lille.