West Ham to spend up to £30m on 'top class striker', says David Sullivan

David Sullivan is expecting to spend up to £30m on a new forward this summer

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan expects to spend up to £30m on a "top striker" this summer.

Sullivan told Sky Sports News HQ earlier this month that he was confident of signing a new forward ahead of the club's move to the Olympic Stadium.

West Ham have already had bids for Alexandre Lacazette and Callum Wilson turned down, while Sky sources understand the Hammers remain interested in Michy Batshuayi and Christian Benteke.

Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna all joined club last summer and enjoyed superb debut campaigns in the Premier League, helping West Ham finish seventh and secure qualification for the Europa League.

Dimitri Payet was one of many success stories at West Ham last season

Norway international Havard Nordtveit became West Ham's first signing of the close season earlier this month and Sullivan is anticipating a busy summer of transfer activity at the club, with a top class striker at the top of his wish list.

"We have done well with our signings and we hope we can sign a few more this summer who will do equally as well or better," Sullivan told the club's official website.

"We know that we need a top striker which is the hardest thing to sign. We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and that will cost us £25m or £30m. That is where the bulk of the money goes.

Slaven Bilic's side will be playing in the Europa League next season

"We also need the occasional long shot which is the cheaper player that may come good. We want to sign more players.

"There might be a few fringe players who we will let go and use that to bring in two or three more players.

"We have already signed one player for next season and there will be other signings. I would think that four, five or six players will come in this summer depending on how many go and hopefully we do just as well or even better next season."