Financial limitations push West Ham to explore loan market for Michail Antonio replacement | OneFootball

West Ham United are intensifying their efforts to recruit a prolific goalscorer in the January transfer window following the injury to star striker Michail Antonio.

Antonio underwent surgery on a lower limb fracture sustained in a car accident last Saturday, resulting in him missing the Hammers’ 2-1 home triumph against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.

With an uncertain timeline for Antonio’s return to action, West Ham will likely double down in their search for an immediate solution to boost their firepower.

West Ham paid £27.5 million to sign Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund last summer, but he has endured an injury-hit start to life in England.

Fullkrug opened his Premier League account in a 3-1 defeat at Leicester City and could be considered a mid-season addition after a sustained period on the treatment table earlier this season.

However, the 31-year-old alone is not enough to steer West Ham away from the bottom half of the table, heightening the pressure on the club to address the issue in January.

After spending big last summer, the London giants face budgetary constraints, forcing technical director Tim Steidten to explore alternative ways to reinforce the club’s attacking options.

There’s a chance West Ham could tap into the loan market after their search for a new centre-forward became a priority.

Despite being in dire need of a new striker, it’s hard to expect the club to splash the cash midway through the campaign, increasing the likelihood of a loan arrival.