Craig Bellamy was at the centre of a tug-of-war last night after West Ham United turned down a £6million offer from Tottenham Hotspur, seven days before the transfer window opens. The Wales forward is on the shopping list of Manchester City, probably the favourites for his signature should he leave Upton Park, but it was Harry Redknapp who made the first move in an attempt to rectify Tottenham's transfer dealing in the summer, which left them with only two experienced forwards after the sales of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.

Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, has targeted bringing in two attacking players and possibly a centre back, with Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate troubled by injuries. With West Ham's Icelandic owners hit hard in the global financial crisis, they may find it difficult to turn down an offer for Bellamy in excess of £11million.

Bellamy cost West Ham £7.5million from Liverpool in July last year but his first season was disrupted by a persistent groin and stomach injury, restricting him to eight league games, in which he scored twice. He has added two more in 14 league matches this campaign. “Bellamy's a feisty little character and is certainly one of the options, but if they don't want to sell him it's up to them,” Redknapp said.

Fernando Cavenaghi, the Bordeaux and Argentina striker, has also been linked with a move to Tottenham. The 25-year-old's agent, Rodrigo Vilariño, said: “Tottenham made an approach but a concrete offer hasn't been made for the moment.”

Tottenham have looked threadbare in attack in some recent matches. Redknapp was forced to start Fraizer Campbell, on loan from Manchester United, in the 2-2 draw against Spartak Moscow in the Uefa Cup last week. Redknapp hopes that Darren Bent will recover from tonsillitis to play at home to Fulham today.

The North London club's problems up front were of their own making. On a chaotic final day of the last transfer window, they made offers for Carlton Cole, of West Ham, and Diego Milito, of Real Zaragoza, and were interested in Emile Heskey, of Wigan Athletic. When such avenues were exhausted, Tottenham requested taking Campbell on a season's loan as part of the Berbatov deal, which forced United to cancel an agreement that they had to loan the striker to Wigan Athletic.

Tottenham first tried to sign Bellamy two years ago before he joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers, where he scored 17 goals in his only season. Tottenham could pay loyalty payments to circumvent breaking their wage structure, because the forward earns about £70,000 a week, and should he move, he would be eligible to play in next month's Carling Cup semi-final against Burnley. Wages are no problem for City, who can also offer Bellamy the chance to rejoin Mark Hughes, for whom he successfully played with Blackburn and Wales.

Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, has said that he had assurances from the club's Icelandic owners that he did not need to sell Bellamy and it would be his decision which players leave. Several fringe players are expected to be sold, but the Italian has fewer luxuries in attack, with his side not managing to score more than once in the past 12 matches.

Dean Ashton is unlikely to return until at least March after an operation on his ankle in September. “I don't think we'll have him in January or February, but I hope soon,” Zola said. “He had something causing problems with the cartilage in his ankle but because of his previous injuries it couldn't be a quick thing because they don't want to do any more damage.”

Zola could have Kieron Dyer available for the FA Cup third-round tie at home to Barnsley a week tomorrow. The midfield player has been out since suffering a double fracture of his right leg in a Carling Cup tie away to Bristol Rovers in August 2007.