Diarra wants West Ham exit

West Ham midfielder Alou Diarra has expressed his desire to leave Boleyn Ground in the January transfer window.

Diarra, 31, joined West Ham in a €3.5 million deal from Marseille last summer, but a thigh injury saw him miss the start of the season.

The player returned into action in December, but failed to break into the starting line-up, and is now ready to leave the Hammers in search of regular playing time.

“Yes, I want to go. It’s breaking point. Today, I want a real challenge and I will not get it at West Ham,” Diarra confessed to L’Equipe.

“With the current coach (Sam Allardyce), it is impossible. There’s no dialogue, no explanation. I have to go.

“Some clubs have approached West Ham and I’m not afraid to leave. It will always be better than here. At West Ham, I wasted my time.”

Diarra established himself as one of Europe’s leading holding midfielders during his time at Bordeaux, before joining Ligue 1 rivals Marseille in the summer of 2011.

After spending just one season at Stade Velodrome, the France international decided to accept an offer from West Ham, which proved to be a poor decision.

Since joining the Hammers, Diarra has made just 2 Premier League appearances for the club.