Last Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:49
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola looks likely to miss out on Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni who looks to be heading back to Italy.
The 32-year-old is desperate to play his way back into the Italian squad in time for next summer's World Cup finals, but after falling out with Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, he is finding first team football impossible to come by at the Allianz Arena.
He has been linked with a move to West Ham, who have strong Italian connections throughout the club, but Toni has claimed that he is Italy bound when the window opens in January.
He said: "I miss everything about my country: the fans, my friends, my mother. I still don't know in which team I'll play but I know for certain that I'll return to Italy."
"Here in Germany I have made errors, which I regret. These mistakes will probably cost a place at the World Cup in South Africa even if I still hope Lippi will call me up," Toni added