Gianfranco Zola admits he wants to sign two new strikers before the end of the transfer window

By JONATHAN CLEGG

Gianfranco Zola admits he wants to sign two new strikers before the end of the transfer window as Eidur Gudjohnsen and Luca Toni continue to be linked with moves to Upton Park.

West Ham have just one fit first-team forward ahead of this weekend's Premier League opener at Wolves, with Carlton Cole due to start the match at Molineux as a lone hitman.

But Hammers boss Zola is adamant that he will boost his side's firepower before the transfer deadline on September 1, with the Italian lining up a double swoop for Barcelona's Gudjohnsen and Italy international Toni in the next fortnight.

"We're looking for at least two strikers, that's the idea," Zola told the Advertiser. "We said at the end of the season that we need to build up on what we did last year and improve on what was missing.

"We are focused on that but we also know that its not an easy market. There are not many good players around and those that are around are very difficult to get because when a team has a good player they don't release him very easily.

"But we are confident I think West Ham right now is an attractive team and I'm sure I will find the right person. I know who I want and they're still available."

West Ham have been linked with a deal for Gudjohnsen for more than 12 months, while Bayern Munich striker Toni is also thought to be open to a move to Upton Park.

Zola has denied that West Ham plan to fund any signings with cash raised from selling Matthew Upson after reiterating that he expects the England defender to remain at Upton Park.

Upson has this week emerged as a target for Manchester City, but Zola dismissed suggestions that the 29-year-old would be allowed to leave West Ham.

"I think Matthew is happy here and for his game and his hopes for the national team, West Ham can be very good for him," Zola said.

"I'm expecting that [he will stay] because the club wants to progress and to do that we have to keep our best players and get some more.