West Ham co-owner David Gold is confident the club will sign a "quality striker" before the transfer window shuts. The Hammers had been linked with a move for Real Madrid's Ruud van Nistelrooy but that fell through when the former Manchester United star signed for Hamburg.
But Gold, who took over as co-chairman at Upton Park with David Sullivan a week ago, insisted the search would go on.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "(We want) any centre forward, any striker, with a caveat that they must be able to score goals. There are lots of strikers who don't score goals.
"We're listening to any proposals and working hard to bring someone in. But the greatest danger was that this deal (van Nistelrooy) could have gone on and on and the window would have slammed shut on us.
"I would be hugely disappointed if we did not bring in a striker before the window closes. It would have to be someone of quality or there is no point."
Gold maintained that no West Ham players would be allowed to leave but, did reveal that plans were being put in place in case the worst happened.
He said: "We will have a plan in place for relegation but hope that won't be the case.
"I'm hugely confident. I believe we could be in mid-table by the end of the season, but we are planning and making adjustments for the possibility of relegation."
Gold also maintained that the club's proposed move into the Olympic stadium, three miles from Upton Park, after London 2012 could transform the club.
He said: "It's a dream. It could transform West Ham football club. As a fan I want to stay at Upton Park but I'm a realist.
"If West Ham is to move forward and challenge in due course, three or five years from now, we have to move into a state of the art, modern stadium.
"Everybody I've spoken to is in favour of the project. We are looking at the possibility of retractable seating. The Manchester City stadium has been hugely successful and we would like to emulate that."
Gold, however, reassured Hammers fans that the club's name would not be changed after suggestions that it could become 'West Ham Olympic'.
He added: "(The name of) West Ham United would never change while I am co-chairman of the football club. I wouldn't want that change.
"What you might do is call the stadium West Ham Olympic stadium. I can make a case for that."
