Slaven Bilic has confirmed West Ham are hoping to sign Wilfried Bony and Simone Zaza before the transfer window closes next week.
The Hammers have been on the hunt for strikers all summer but top targets Carlos Bacca and Alexandre Lacazette turned them down.
But moves for Manchester City forward Bony and Juventus star Zaza remain alive with the clock ticking ahead of next Wednesday’s deadline.
Bilic says his side are short of quality and numbers and he has advised chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan — who is continuing to work on deals despite undergoing heart surgery this week — to pursue the pair.