SAM Allardyce might be concerned about the success of his transfer policy, but his rivals in the lower reaches of the Premiership seem all too keen on following his lead.

While Alex Ferguson might be chasing Robbie Fowler for more than £10 million and Damien Duff is a known target for Gerard Houllier, the bosses at the other end of the table are feeling the pinch and most will have to try and get players on the cheap.

Glenn Roeder, who is West Ham side currently prop up the division, has been told there is no money for permanent deals but hopes to bring in three players on loan as soon as the window opens.

With an injury crisis in attack - which has forced defender Ian Pearce to play up front - it is likely that Roeder will aim to bring in forwards.

He does not, however, admit to any interest in Roma's out of favour Gabriel Batistuta, who has been linked with a £60,000 per week loan move to Upton Park.

Roeder said: "We have never been involved in anything to do with Batistuta.

"With the wages available I could probably squeeze in three players. I am working on one particular deal, as I have been over the last couple of weeks, and the chairman has been very supportive of me."

Also falling into trouble are Fulham who are also linked with a move for Batistuta.

They have been surprisingly quiet on the transfer front for 12 months now, bringing in loan player Junichi Inamoto and freebie Facundo Sava in the summer.

Owner Mohammed Al-Fayed has recently been tightening his belt, but Batistuta's agent Settimio Aloisio says that Fulham are currently heading the list of possible clubs to move to in England.

Although boosted by last weekend's win over Liverpool, there will be no joy for Howard Wilkinson in the transfer market.

His predecessor, Peter Reid, had always been cautious in spending cash, but forked out more than £10 million on Tore Andre Flo and Marcus Stewart shortly before his sacking.

Now it has been revealed that the club are £25 million in debt, which has meant chairman Bob Murray has had to announce there is no money to spend when the window finally opens.

West Brom chief Gary Megson has targeted a new spine of players, with at least six players throughout defence, midfield and attack on his shopping list.

During the summer he brought in Jason koumas and sean greagn from Nationwide clubs, and is said to be interested in Derby's Malcolm Christie, but is also "doing a Sam" by chasing European targets on short-term deals.

Club chairman Jeremy Peace had warned Megson that he would not bankroll a spending spree if the club looked doomed at Christmas, but they still have a fighting chance of staying up.

Megson said: "We've passed on the names of five players we would like to sign. We need fresh impetus, and not all the targets would cost a fee."

With their £30 million debt, Leeds will have to sell the likes of Olivier Dacourt before they can buy - which shows how times have changed since the David O'Leary era.

They are in the hunt for defenders, including Argentinian Gabriel Milito, but Terry Venables' uncertain Elland Road future will have a major bearing on any deals.

Aston Villa must sell before they can buy, with recent speculation saying that defender Alpay may be allowed to leave to fund a spending spree for Graham Taylor.

In the summer he was forced to bring in free transfer players such as Ronny Johnsen and Oyvind Leonhardsen, and that could be repeated.

Taylor said: "If there is going to be any way of bringing anyone in we have to move someone out. Bringing in free players is becoming more important to me."