West Ham could miss out on West Brom’s Salomon Rondon with Dalian Yifang now favourites to sign the striker, according to the Times.

The Chinese Super League club are now managed by Rafa Benitez, who was the forward’s manager at Newcastle United.

It is believed Rondon is keen on a reunion with the Spaniard, and that could make Dalian the frontrunners to sign the 29-year-old.

The Hammers have already had one offer rejected for the player with claims of another proposal having been made, but their bids are believed to have fallen short of the Venezuelan international’s release clause.

Rondon is currently available for just £16.5m but West Ham are also looking to sign Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez, which means they have limited resources to go after both.

Whether the Venezuelan can be persuaded to stay in the UK, it remains to be seen, and it appears the Irons will have to move quickly if they don’t want to lose him to the Far East.