A top level source inside West Ham United claims the club will be making a much-needed signing in the next window but it comes with a warning.
West Ham have endured a torrid season, tumbling into a relegation battle after a fine start to the campaign.
Much of that was down to an unforgivable lack of firepower.
West Ham shipped out all five of last season’s strikers and splashed a record £45million on Sebastien Haller.
Haller’s Hammer hardship
Albian Ajeti was brought in as back-up but has looked well short of the required standard and has barely had a kick.
Haller, who made his name as part of a deadly two-man striker partnership with Frankfurt, has struggled in the lone striker role netting just seven goals in 29 appearances.
It is clear West Ham need to do something about the striker situation in the next window.
And a top level source inside West Ham has claimed that is the plan.
Claret & Hugh regularly claims to have a senior source of information inside the club – believed to be co-owner David Sullivan himself.
Top level inside source pledges striker signing with caveat
And Claret & Hugh claims their source has promised a striker signing to help Haller. But warned players may need to be sold to balance the books.
“It’s essential that we bring one (a striker) in and it’s clear that is the priority,” the source told Claret & Hugh.
“It’s been a worry all season and we need to get it right but like every club we need to shift players as well as get the right faces in.
“Whether we like it or not the books have to be balanced in difficult financial times.”
‘Coronavirus will force player sales’
The difficult financial times the report refers to is of course the result of football being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Uncertainty is growing over when or indeed if the Premier League season will resume.
If it is cancelled West Ham will remain in the top flight by default. But the authorities appear to be leaning towards finishing the campaign regardless of when it resumes after UEFA followed the FA’s lead and extended the season for an indefinite period.