West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan says that the club will aim to sign as many as five new players during the summer after an impressive first season back in the Premier League.

Sam Allardyce's side may have come up through the play-offs but they have been the most impressive of all the promoted sides as they currently sit in 10<sup>th place, assured of another season in the top flight.

Despite a superb season Allardyce has decided to wait until the end of the current campaign to sign a new deal with the club as he wanted assurances that he would be able to strengthen the squad in the summer.

Andy Carroll
Will Andy Carroll join West Ham on a permanent deal in the summer? [Reuters]

With Sullivan's latest comments it would seem Allardyce will be backed and that he will be able to sign at least one new striker.

"Our aim for the coming season is to bring in four or five players that will strengthen the squad," Sullivan told the Express. "We will be aiming to bring in at least one proven goalscorer to further bolster our attacking threat."

Whether that 'proven goalscorer' is Liverpool striker Andy Carroll it is still unclear as West Ham had baulked at the £17million asking price.

Carroll has initially struggled during his season-long loan spell at Upton Park but has now scored seven goals in his last 14 appearances and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet in recent months.

The Hammers have also been linked with Vitesse striker Wilfried Bony who is the top scorer in the Eredevisie with a staggering 31 goals in just 24 league games.

The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Holland but there is likely to be plenty of competition for his signature after an incredible such an incredible goal scoring season.

While it seems a striker will inevitably arrive, West Ham have already begun work in strengthening other areas of their squad as it was announced last month that they had won the race to sign Romania captain Razvan Rat on a free transfer when his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expires in June.