West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury has prioritised bringing a striker to Upton Park before the summer transfer window closes.
Bayern Munich's Luca Toni is keen to work with Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola, who is also believed to be monitoring Eidur Gudjohnsen's situation at Barcelona.
"I know the fans are waiting for us to sign at least one more forward and that is what we are working to do," Duxbury said on the club's official website, www.whufc.com.
"Gianfranco, Gianluca Nani and I are absolutely aware that we need to bring at least one more into the squad as soon as possible.
"We are talking every day and working very hard to make this happen. The reality is we are looking at top-quality players and these deals can take time."
Zola has secured Luis Jimenez on a season-long loan from Inter Milan but he needs more support for Carlton Cole.
Duxbury added: "It is important we keep the supporters updated as much as we can with the squad and what we are doing during the transfer window.
"We all recognise your concern with regard to striker recruitment and this is our top priority. As the manager has also said in the press, we are trying to add more attacking options.
"Luis Jimenez was an important signing for Gianfranco and it was good to get the deal done so early in the summer. Not all transfers are as straightforward and the other high-profile targets we have been following have required us to be patient.
"Rest assured everyone at the club is working hard to bring further recruits to the squad - especially a forward."
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Come end of the September with no front line in place we could be possibly between 9 and 12 points off the leaders, those 9/12 pionts at the end of the season could have gained us extra money for finishing in a higher position, it could also have possibly given us a place in europe next season, (money that would have helped pay for a couple of good strickers) and possibly find us new owners who have a real interest in the club. With those points lost, it could get us relegated,who would want to buy us then, don't seem good management to me from the owers down too Zola. The saga with the 3 front players that keep getting mentioned Toni etc. been going on too long. If they are questioning coming to the club, look for someone else who does want to come, if its a case that we cannot afford them, stop trying to get something on the cheap, again, go for something we can afford,but don't go for money grabbing has beens, instead play the youngsters and lets get behind them.
WHAT THE OWNERS AND ZOLA SHOULD HAVE DONE, IS TO HAVE MADE ANY PURCHASES IN THE PERIOD LEADING UPTO THE START OF TRAINING FOR THE NEW SEASON,before the possible loss of points.
Here we go :(
On BBC text this morning it says we're trying to LOAN Luca Toni, LOAN Gudjohnsen and LOAN a central defender from abroad.
If these are true it can only be because we they want to sell Upson and grab the cash !!
No matter how good loan players are, they add NO value to our assts, only a cost in wages. This would effectively be asset stripping no matter how they try to dress it up.
Even if the TV money and finishing position money from last season was ALL eaten up by paying off Sheff Utd (but it can't be, and in any case we're not paying it all to them in one season), there could be absolutely no excuse for trying to claw any more cash in from selling players unless it was FULLY re-invested in buying players.
We'll just have to wait and see what occurs, but I'm not optimistic if those loan reports are true.
yeah I see your point Phil the last thing I would want to see is Green leaving
Unfortunately, as fans, we don't get to stipulate where the money goes. If Upson is sold, they still might turn round and bring a loan striker in. If Upson goes, Green will want out too. If you want to keep (or attract) quality players you have to show that you're building, not selling.
Leave well alone and concentrate on bringing a quality striker (or two) in. They haven't spent lunch money yet !!
If we are to build something here with the great talent we have got coming through we need to get a striker who isnt past his sell by date, much as I hate to say this but Upson is 30 and if Man City want to pay £12 million for him I say cash in and spend the money on a striker
1.) Ashton needs to get healthy or leave...... he isn't any good to us right now!
2.) We need to stop talking with Neill. I don't care if he plays for free..... we've got better options than him!
3.) When we call a cab to pick up Ashton and Neill..... we might as well throw dyer in with them as well!
come on zola get of rid of ashton and dyer and get a good striker.
Patrick,
I haven't forgotten john Lyall at all. and I resent the implication.
However, football has moved on in the last 25 years. Even lower quality clubs like Sunderland and Bolton are outspending us significantly.
Also, Collison, Sears, Tomkins and Noble are good, but they are NOT McAvennie, Brooking, Cottee and Devonshire !!
Also, the quality of opposition is much higher than those heroes used to play against.
So, unintentionally, I think you have merely highlighted the problems we face if we don't make SOME attempt to keep up with the pack.
A new front man is a must !! I was there on saturday and we had nothing going forward. Cole done well but we started with Dyer up front with him - I dont think Dyer ever scored more than five in a season. I would love to see Gudjohnsen at Upton park but will he come ? Upson,Ilunga,Noble all done well but we were never going to score and will struggle all season unless someone like Gudjohnsen arrives wearing the famous Claret and Blue.The board need to show to money and the commitment the our long suffering fans deserve....
i think phil forgets the great team john lyall had with macavennie ,devonshire etc in the eighties,what class football
Same old season boys , no significant signings as usual !!!!!!!! this season will be worse than last cos we got a bit of luck last year , cant see that happening again !!!!!
A realistic (very) good season would be qualifying for Europe. We're never going to challenge for the Champions League qualification unless we become a big money club.
If the new owners think they can do things budget-style, then we probably don't have many seasons left in the Premiership.
Even if Luca Toni and Gudjohnsen come in (and they need to), the teller will be what happens with Ashton and particularly Upson. We'll then know our fate under these owners.
If Upson stays and those 2 strikers come in I think we have a VERY good chance of qualifying for Europe.
Pathetic dreamers ... yeah I guess since 1980 thats all we have really been able to be us hammers fans, and you dont have to read the reports or travel the world too see what really happens, I hope we finish above the Spuds aswell, but that goes to show just how pathetic out team and dreams really are... but we still dont fade and die do we, we just jog on and try our best to defend the guys who drive the lovely cars, and yeah it was a real struggle to get even 2 of them to sign my boys shirts yesterday at the Green Street car park .. pathetic ..yeah guess your right :(
I pray we do Phil
Ah well Ron, we'll still finish above pathetic Spermz this season, so it won't all be bad.
garybillingham, & Phil.
After traveling all the way to Beijing I expected a lot more from West Ham against a team that would struggle in the Championship and expected them to slaughter their reserves, but never mind the Great Wall was nice and Xian even better, wake up you pair of pathetic deamers and read the reports.
We need a striker and Ashtons not got the bottle or inclination to earn his wages.
Tour Report from Yahoo follows.
Having lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final, there was only third place and progress towards match fitness to play for at the Worker's Stadium.
There were five changes to the Hammers team from the semi, while Guoan played an entirely different side, with most of their players leaving to play in a league game.
It took Gianfranco Zola's side 80 minutes to make the breakthrough, with Mark Noble's corner headed in by Danny Gabbidon.
Substitute Zavon Hines then added a second just before full-time to give the Hammers happier memories of Beijing than their previous encounter, which saw a serious injury suffered by Luis Boa Morte.
Getting behind the team isn't going to improve carltons first touch or make him deadly in fron of goal, Lee ;)
And Phillo, when are you going to wake up and read previous comments before repeating what's already been said? ;)
with some luck cole could be our (english) best forward this year, lets get behind the team.
when are people going to wake up? Carlton Cole needs offloading, harry's wife would score more.
we need atleast two more upfront
Phil... it seems Ronsenglish is on the wrong 'Planet' too me mate ? :D
COYI's...
Going to the Bob Moore Charity match today wtih my Boys.... hope they raise more than £40k this year for the cause :D
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