LONDON (AFP) - West Ham have made an approach to sign Inter Milan's out-of-favour striker Adriano on loan.

The Premier League club were reported to have sent chief executive Scott Duxbury to Milan on Tuesday to start talks with the Brazilian.

Adriano has been told he can leave the Serie A champions and had already been offered to Arsenal, who turned down the chance to sign him.

West Ham have invested heavily in the transfer market since Eggert Magnusson took over the club last season, and the attempt to sign such a famous name is further evidence of the Icelandic businessman's determination to take the Hammers into the game's upper echelons.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger decided that Adriano would not improve his squad despite the pre-season sale of Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

"I was offered Adriano on loan and I said no," Wenger said. "We do not need him and it was an easy decision to make because we're not out there to sign another striker.

"The agreement was for a loan. Adriano has qualities we don't need. They wanted to give us a player but wanted one back in return.

"I won't say who it was. I didn't want to lose the player they requested. I didn't necessarily think Adriano would upset the balance of the squad."