(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Manuel Pelegrini is continuing to push for new players and hopes to persuade the owners to invest in another midfielder as well as a back-up striker.

But the club – having adopted a ‘no leaks’ policy all summer – as they brought in seven new players is not issuing a single clue on the likely candidates.

Pellegrini is determined to conduct what would become the biggest overhaul of a West Ham squad probably in its history and demonstrates that he is in full agreement with all those fans who were making it clear all last season the playing staff were by and large not good enough.

It has to be unlikely that the club will be splashing out in excess of £20 million for a striker or midfielder, instead probably going for one or possibly two loan options

One striker option which could be on the radar is Liverpool’s Divock Origa who spent last season on loan at Wolfsburg and is now entering the last year of his contract at Anfield.

And there is perhaps an outside chance that Pellegrini could have the chance of bringing Joao Mario (above right) back to the club on loan after his spell here last season.