West Ham have stepped away from talks to sign Racing Genk striker Paul Onuachu, according to reports in the Nigerian media.

The 6ft 7 striker has been tracked by a number of Premier League teams, including Arsenal, Brighton and Watford, but the Hammers were said to be the most advanced in negotiations.

However, Genk have refused to budge on their €26m (£22m) valuation of the player and West Ham have now decided to move on to other targets.

Onuachu scored an impressive 35 goals in all competitions last campaign but the Nigerian international has never proved himself in a big European league, having spent most of his professional career in Denmark and Belgium.

West Ham are still looking at other possible forward options. Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham, Slavia Prague’s Abdallah Sima and Liverpool’s Divock Origi are all said to be alternatives being eyed but no deal is close to being agreed at this stage.