West Ham boss David Moyes on red alert as new report suggests Jose Mourinho faces defeat over Marouane Fellaini

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If there is one player new West Ham United boss David Moyes’ name is intrinsically linked with it is Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini.

Former Red Devils manager Moyes was appointed Slaven Bilic’s replacement at West Ham last week with the East London club languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

Moyes has been handed a six-month contract to dig the Hammers out of danger and impress sufficiently to earn a longer term deal.

With the January transfer window just six weeks away, speculation has been rife as to which players the Scotsman will look to add to his squad to help him achieve his aims.

One player intrinsically linked with Moyes’ management career is Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

The pair enjoyed a fantastic spell together after Moyes brought Fellaini to Everton. He scored 25 goals in 141 appearances as the Toffees finished fifth, eighth, seventh, seventh and sixth in the Premier League between 2008 and 2013.

Fellaini was one of the first players Moyes signed when he was appointed Manchester United boss for a whopping £27.5 million.

Despite a difficult time at Old Trafford, Fellaini has cemented his place in the team under Jose Mourinho.

But according to Sky Sports, the Red Devils are facing up to the reality of losing the big Belgian after negotiations over a new contract reached a stalemate.

According to Sky, Man United are facing an uphill struggle to keep Fellaini at the club after the star, who turns 30 next week, was offered a new contract in September but rejected the deal.

The report claims Mourinho – who admitted last week he was “worried” about Fellaini’s contract situation with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season – remains hopeful an agreement might still be reached.

Fellaini is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another side in January and despite Mourinho’s unwillingness to lose him, a big bid from West Ham could persuade the Old Trafford side to do a deal or lose him for nothing in the summer.

Manage that and West Ham would give themselves a great chance of staying up given how crucial Fellaini can be at both end of the pitch and the fact he is playing for a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad.

The Hammers would be a frightening prospect from set pieces with Carroll and Fellaini in the side.