Hammers forced to hold off on plans to bring Diarra on board.
West Ham will have to wait until the summer before they can bag the signing of former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra, according to the Metro.
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The Frenchman has been available on a free transfer since leaving Lokomotiv Moscow last year, and Hammers boss Sam Allardyce had been hoping to snap him up to help give their chances of European qualification a shot in the arm.
However, a FIFA ruling has prevented the 29-year-old from signing officially until the end of the current campaign, though he may still link up with the club now unofficially.
“We had agreed a deal and unfortunately the FIFA regulation – that hasn’t been explained to me yet,” Allardyce said.
“There is a FIFA regulation at the moment that cannot be overcome so he will not be joining us until the end of the season.”