Transfer guide

We break down who West Ham should be signing and weigh up how much cash might be in the kitty.

What's been said: "It will be massive if we do get Andy, but it is not the be all and end all. I have been with Sam a long time. When he did not manage to get his first man, he has always managed to get his second man and we always manage to do well. If he gets the chance to bring the quality of the players he wants, then I am sure we will be aiming for the higher echelons of the Premier League" - Kevin Nolan. The budget: The Hammers have big money to spend on a new striker and will no doubt add two or three more in other positions. A total budget of around £25m wouldn't be a surprise. What's needed: It's clear that West Ham are going all out to bring in a proven goalscorer (or Andy Carroll) this summer with Sir Trevor Brooking admitting that "the attacking area is an issue". Sam Allardyce is perhaps rather fortunate to be backed in bids for Carroll and Alvaro Negredo after finding poor value in £15m duo Modibo Maïga and Matt Jarvis last summer, but the manager's new two-year contract shows that Davids Gold and Sullivan are happy to continue building in Allardyce's pragmatic style. Carroll's stalling tactics have prompted a £14.5m bid for Negredo, which was rejected by Sevilla, and it seems the Hammers may have to look elsewhere if they want their new man in for the start of pre-season. Other options include a loan move for Romelu Lukaku and a £10m bid for Jordan Rhodes, but Allardyce would have to change his system to accommodate the Blackburn striker. The Hammers solved their issue at left-back with the acquisition of Shakhtar defender Razvan Raț, while goalkeeper Adrian has also arrived on a free from Real Betis. Allardyce may also pursue another midfielder to increase competition for places as West Ham seek to improve on their tenth-place finish. Ideal signing: Negredo would be something of a coup for the Hammers. He has six goals in 14 games for Spain, and scored 25 goals in 36 league games for Sevilla last season. That's only three less than Falcao. Sky Bet: The Hammers are odds-on to land their primary transfer target Andy Carroll this summer. Despite injury problems, the powerful striker suitably impressed during his loan spell and is 1/3 to return on a permanent basis, although Newcastle are considered in competition for his signature at 4/1. Additional fire-power is clearly seen as Sam Allardyce's main objective, with Nicolas Anelka backed into evens to arrive, while we've also seen money on Peter Crouch (3/1), Arouna Kone and Gary Hooper (both 5/1) to make moves to Upton Park. Transfer specials here Release list: Carlton Cole, Jake Larkins, Gary O'Neil, Jack Powell, Jami Rafati, Eoin Wearen Read our up-to-the-minute live West Ham transfer feed here