West Ham cool on Maeda

English Championship hopefuls West Ham have decided against signing Japan international Ryoichi Maeda after his trial with the club this week.

The 30-year-old striker, who won the J-League Golden Boot award in 2009 and 2010, is expected to return to Japan on Monday.

Maeda’s Japanese club Jubilo Iwata confirmed the trial had been unsuccessful on Sunday.

“We understand they were unable to agree terms,” Jubilo president Hiroyuki Yoshino said.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admitted after Saturday’s 1-0 league win at Portsmouth that he was in the market for a striker in January.

“I am looking for another striker because from the chances we created we have not been clinical enough and that has been a problem,” Allardyce said.