West Ham United’s desperate hunt to find a striker capable of firing the club up the Premier League table will see them make an ambitious enquiry to take either Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial on loan from Manchester United.

With Chelsea reluctant to allow West Ham’s top loan target Michy Batshuayi to leave in January, the Hammers have been forced to consider other options.

Ideally, West Ham want to sign proven Premier League players in the New Year and have targeted Chelsea, United and Liverpool stars who are currently not regular first-team starters.

Daniel Sturridge is already on West Ham’s radar and they will also ask about the situations of both Rashford and Martial in the hope of persuading one of the big clubs to allow a striker to leave.

It would seem unlikely United manager Jose Mourinho will allow either Rashford or Martial to leave Old Trafford in January, despite the fact both men have lost their places in his starting line-up.