Hammers hero Marlon Harewood reckons the Irons need a new striker in January whilst holding onto Marko Arnautovic.

He feels keeping the Austrian is vital but insists signing another to rival them both could be a key move in the window.

Talking on Love Sport radio he said:  “I think they’ve bought really well. But it’s keeping them because they are top-class players. Clubs are going to go out and look to better their squads.

“Arnautovic needs some help, perhaps another striker. But Andy Carroll is back fit and that will be a massive boost for the lads. Another striker to put pressure on the lads and keep them doing well.”

CandH says: He’s not wrong is he? Sometimes things are so blindingly obvious you can’t see them but Marlon’s suggestion an extra striker is brought in to put the pressure on Carroll and Arnautovic is spot on. The Austrian has taken on a Payet-like presence at West Ham and it is not healthy for one man to command so much attention in team sport. We have seen it far too many times in the past and a next step for the board is to go out and bring in a striker who will put them both – but Arnie in particular – under pressure. It will do him good whilst Andy Carroll has a final chance to show us that he really can produce long term. He is a more natural striker than Arnie and obviously at his best is, as Pellegrini has made clear several times, a real option. A third top front man would make one hell of a lot of difference. Go do it board.