West Ham will swap Matthew Upson for Arsenal star Nicklas Bendtner

West Ham will attempt to use Matthew Upson as bait to land Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner

Gianfranco Zola has earmarked the Danish hitman as a direct replacement for Craig Bellamy, who is poised to complete a £15 million move to Manchester City this week.

But with severe financial restraints in place at Upton Park and the unwillingness of Arsenal to discuss a temporary deal for Bendtner, Zola will offerUpsonto theGunners for cash and the striker.

The Hammers initially enquired about taking Bendtner on loan until the end of the season,but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger made it clear he will only consider selling the powerful striker.

Upson was a former trainee with the Gunners, but quit to joinBirminghamina£2million deal in February 2003 after becoming frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities.

His form and growing maturity on the field eventually led to England recognition.

Arsenal have endured major problems in defence and Wenger has admitted he is in the market for a defender who can come straight into the first team reckoning rather than be a development signing.

Wenger has also been eyeing Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

Arsenal have been tracking him for the past few weeks and are aware Bolton are reluctant to lose the former Aston Villa starlet but have been lining up their own offer for West Ham centre-back Callum Davenport.

Arsenal are aware that West Ham's cash crisis can open the door to a series of deals.

They sent a scout to Upton Park yesterday to run the rule over Upson - who didn't actually play - and goalkeeper Robert Green.

Green is one of West Ham's prize assets. He is a key figure in their battle for survival. But Zola also knows that if the offer is right, Green will go - along with the likes of Matthew Upson and Mark Noble. Noble has caught Wenger's eye.

The England Under-21 star's all-action style is reminiscent of Mathieu Flamini whose energy and graft have been missed at The Emirates following his move to AC Milan.