West Ham co-chairman David Gold has told talkSPORT the club are "desperate" to sign strikers with Premier League experience, amid speculation they want to sign Olivier Giroud from Arsenal.
Having signed Andre Ayew, Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri last summer without much success -- the club scored 18 goals fewer than the previous season -- Gold is now willing to spend money to ensure the striker department is one that doesn't let them down again.
"It's clear to most fans that we are desperate for centre-forwards," Gold said. "Andy Carroll is injury-prone as we know, we have had an injury problem with [Diafra] Sakho and we have just got to bring in centre-forwards. We have got to find the money.
"Without strikers, you struggle in the Premier League. You struggle in any division because strikers are your key players.
"You have to spend your money wisely but it must be on strikers, particularly strikers that have had experience with Premier League football -- the very best we can afford.
"We have tried the route of going overseas to bring in players -- that hasn't worked. We had a very difficult season because players we brought in from Europe didn't make the grade and we paid the price. We struggled.
"We were actually flirting for some time with relegation because we couldn't score goals. That is why we have got to bring in players with Premier League experience and that is what we are working on now. David Sullivan is working day and night in an effort to solve this problem."
When asked about links with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, Gold added: "We are interested in all good players but we have to face the facts here -- we have got good midfielders.
"We have got a good defence, we have got good midfielders, we have got good wingers. We need strikers and that is the key to everything for this season so we are focused first and foremost on bringing in two strikers."