West Ham's search for new attacking firepower took another twist today when it was reported they had agreed a club record £7m deal to sign Barcelona striker Maxi Lopez at the end of the season.

West Ham's search for new attacking firepower took another twist today when it was reported they had agreed a club record £7m deal to sign Barcelona striker Maxi Lopez at the end of the season.

Hammers manager Alan Pardew - understood to have Norwich City's Dean Ashton at the top of his wanted list - is reported to have flown to Spain with managing director Paul Aldridge to discuss a deal for Argentine star Lopez.

West Ham failed in an attempt to sign Lopez on loan at the start of the season.

Pardew is already said to be ready to smash the club's transfer record to get Ashton, believed to be valued at £8m by the Canaries, and has admitted he is keen to increase his side's aerial threat in front of goal.

But City boss Nigel Worthington refused to comment on Ashton's prospects of a move yesterday when he insisted: “There is nothing else to say on the subject. We want to focus on Saturday's game rather than any speculation that might be out there.

“A whole lot of things have got to come into the equation before decisions are made one way or another and as long as we are right at our end then that's the most important thing.

“There is nothing to report on Robert Green either. We have never heard anything on that one up to now.”

It has been a busy time for Pardew with regard to strikers. Bobby Zamora has signed a new contract taking him to 2010, and

Israel international Yaniv Katan, a £100,000 signing at the end of last month, could make his first Premiership start at home to Fulham on Monday night.