West Ham United are refusing to pay the £3m asking price for Stoke City striker Peter Crouch, according to the Daily Telegraph.
With striker Andy Carroll sidelined until December after suffering ankle ligament damage during the pre-season tour of New Zealand, the Hammers are keen to add another forward to their ranks.
Former England international Crouch, 33, joined the Potters for £10m in 2011 but the Hammers are refusing to cough up the £3m Stoke are demanding for the Macclesfield-born forward.
The 6ft 7in striker has scored 25 league goals in 89 starts for Stoke since joining from Tottenham Hotspur three years ago.
Crouch lists QPR, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Liverpool among his former employers and has 120 league goals in 351 career league starts.
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