Former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan are understood to have tabled a bid for the Hammers, who are controlled by Icelandic company CB Holdings.

Earlier in the season, boss Zola needed to sell James Collins to Aston Villa in order to balance the books after signing striker Alessandro Diamanti from Italian side Livorno - but there is a still a shortage of firepower due to Carlton Cole's injury and the club are in a fight to stay in the Barclays Premier League.

Brooking, who scored the winner for West Ham in the 1980 FA Cup final, said: "It would be good to see Gianfranco be able to bring in one or two players in January."

Brooking, 61, was caretaker boss in 2003 when the club were last relegated from the top flight despite a brave battle with their former midfielder in charge. He admits concerns over whether West Ham will get out of their current relegation trouble.

"It's difficult," he said, at the opening of Barnet's new training facility The Hive. "It's not a massive pot but I'm sure they are not alone. With all the ownership issues in the last 18 months it has been really tough and I feel a little bit sorry for Gianfranco.

"But that is part of football. They got the team playing last year and that was positive. They had to allow one or two to go so the depth of the squad is not quite there and they are a bit short from attacking options now Carlton Cole is injured.

"It's a really competitive league because it's a must-stay-up philosophy for the 20 clubs involved. It would be wrong say you are not concerned."

Meanwhile, Birmingham midfielder Lee Bowyer is optimistic Gold and Sullivan can revitalise West Ham in the same way as they transformed his current club.

Bowyer is "sad" to see the Hammers, his boyhood heroes, in such turmoil and fears for their top-flight future with the current squad.

But the 32-year-old feels Gold and Sullivan could have a big impact at Upton Park.

He said: "I think there are strong rumours that David Sullivan and David Gold might be going to West Ham.

"If the two of them can go and do to West Ham what they did for this club over a lot of years, it will be a great move for West Ham.

"I supported West Ham as a boy, and I'll always support West Ham. I'm sorry to see them at the bottom of the Premier League and anything that can help them will be good."

Gold and Sullivan took charge at Birmingham in 1993 when the club was in financial turmoil and, after dropping down to the third tier of football for a short spell, gradually established them as a Premier League club.

The duo ran a tight financial ship but current Blues boss Alex McLeish felt comfortable working within certain boundaries.

He said: "Every manager would like to have money available but I had no real problems with the previous board.

"I knew the parameters and as long as you have got that in black and white, then you can get on with it.

"We had success, getting back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, so it was a good partnership."