West Ham have sounded out Derby boss Steve McClaren about the possibility of replacing Sam Allardyce as manager at Upton Park, sources have told ESPN FC.
Allardyce has yet to hold talks over an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the season, and the former Bolton boss said last month that he did not know if he would be extending his stay at the club.
Several bosses have been touted as potential replacements, including Real Sociedad's David Moyes and Besiktas' Slaven Bilic, and ESPN FC has been told that West Ham officials contacted McClaren's representatives last week to make enquiries.
McClaren ruled out a switch to Newcastle earlier this month, saying he was "100 percent committed to finishing the job" at Pride Park, but West Ham have enquired as to his potential availability and interest in the job.
Former England boss McClaren has been able to rebuild his reputation at Derby, whom he led to last season's playoff final, after difficult spells with Wolfsburg, Twente and Nottingham Forest.
However, his hopes of securing promotion this season ended when the Rams missed out on a place in the playoffs on the final day of the Championship season.
The 54-year-old had previously enjoyed success at Middlesbrough, where he won the League Cup and reached a UEFA Cup final, and during his first stint at Twente, where he won the Eredivisie title.
McClaren said last week that Derby's ambition was key to his plans.
"Talking to [chief executive] Sam Rush and [director] Mel Morris, they are very ambitious for this football club, and I think that is also key," McClaren said in the Derby Telegraph. "It is important Derby County match our ambitions and, if we do that, we will go forward.
"The way the season ended was very frustrating and disappointing for everybody but people mustn't forget what the past 20 months have been like.
"For 18 months this has been a great team, playing great football. It got to Wembley, it has been top of the league, but March and April were two bad months. We understand that, and why, and now we look to go again."