The struggling Hammers are in the market for another striker despite completing the signing of Senegal international Demba Ba from Hoffenheim. Ba, 25, is West Ham's third new recruit of this month, following Wayne Bridge's arrival on loan from Manchester City and Gary O'Neil's move from Middlesbrough. But with West Ham bottom of the Premier League, manager Avram Grant is looking to bring in more firepower and Keane is one of his leading targets. "Robbie Keane is a player we greatly admire. He is clearly available and quality players rarely are," chairman Gold said. "We see him as a potential acquisition. We are looking at all players that are available from top-quality clubs. "David Sullivan (West Ham's co-chairman) was up until the early hours of the morning still pursuing targets that we have. It will probably go right to the wire. "We like to think we don't leave a stone unturned. Our people will go the extra mile to do whatever it takes to try to bring in players that otherwise you wouldn't get if you didn't pursue." Gold, who confirmed West Ham's hopes of signing Joe Cole on loan from Liverpool had bitten the dust, added that no key players will be sold this month. "Nobody can leave. You can see our situation. We would fight off any club pursuing our players," said Gold, referring to reports that Matthew Upson is a target for Arsenal. "The next 14 games will be as important a 14 games as there have been in the history of the football club. "Avram's job is to keep West Ham in the Premier League. That is what his whole life and endeavours will be focused on achieving." After Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Nottingham Forest, West Ham face vital league games against Blackpool, Birmingham and West Brom. Gold insisted he never considered sacking Grant, whose position as manager has been under intense scrutiny since Christmas. Reports suggested that West Ham had lined up Martin O'Neill to replace Grant, only for the former Aston Villa boss to turn down the job. Speculation was rife that Grant would be sacked following a board meeting on January 12. The following Tuesday the board issued a vote of confidence in the manager. "There are people out there who are mischief-making and that is all very sad. I can tell you now that we have a board that is fully behind Avram," Gold said. "Avram is working as hard as you could possibly ask. He knows the requirement. He knows we have to retain our Premier League status and that is his complete focus. "There was all that furore over Avram when we had that board meeting. I can promise you, Avram's name did not even come up in the boardroom. "We have a major board meeting every two or three months and Avram's name did not come up in the meeting. I think that speaks volumes. He's our man." Ba failed a medical at Stoke earlier this month but he came through extensive checks on a knee problem to sign for the Hammers until 2014. West Ham have built safeguards into the deal. The fee for Ba could rise to around £4million but it is dependent largely on the number of appearances he makes for the club. Ba is eligible to play against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday, although he is short of match fitness because the German league has been on a winter break. There is no time for Ba to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League but he is confident of fitting in quickly at Upton Park. "It was a long story but now I'm happy because it had a really good end and I am glad to be here," said Ba. "I'm going to give everything to West Ham United. I'm definitely excited to be playing in the Premier League. "I like playing football. I like to be on the pitch playing good passes with the other guys and running with the ball, rather than playing in a direct style, so I should be able to fit in well at West Ham."
