Free agent Rossi could be another left-field signing like Nasri for West Ham

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Samir Nasri made his return to football after an 18 month absence when his new club West Ham took on his former employers Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

The Frenchman showed no signs of rustiness, putting in an impressive performance as the Hammers won out 1-0, going some way to justifying Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to take a gamble on him.

But the news agenda at the London Stadium revolves around Marko Arnautovic, who wants to go to China, with Shanghai SIPG reportedly ready to up their bid to £45m.

And replacing the talismanic striker may prove a tough task in the short term; should Pellegrini spend big on a replacement in the notoriously inflated January window or keep his powder try until the summer, when his transfer business is more likely to be well-informed and value for money?

Perhaps another Nasri-style swoop could provide a short-term solution to tide the Hammers over until the end of the season.

Former Manchester United hitman Giuseppe Rossi is reportedly back training with his old club and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has encouraged Premier League sides to take a look at the Italian, who is currently a free agent.

Rossi clearly can’t replace Arnautovic’s influence in the long term, but alongside another former Red in Javier Hernandez, he could prove a handy option in front of goal for the rest of the season – allowing West Ham to save their money until the summer.