Hammering out a deal: Ranking West Ham's endless striker targets

To see a list of completed deals in the summer window thus far, visit theScore's Premier League transfer tracker.

Just when Slaven Bilic thought he had added a much needed forward through West Ham United's club-record acquisition of Andre Ayew from Swansea City, the Ghanaian fell to a significant thigh injury on his debut. The Hammers were suddenly back to square one, and the subsequent treatment-room residency of Andy Carroll did the club no favours.

Here, theScore ranks seven of West Ham's reported targets as the Hammers' search for a striker goes on:

7. Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez's heart belongs to Boca Juniors, but a £250,000-per-week salary could have lured the product of the slums away from La Bombonera.

David Sullivan, West Ham's co-chairman, said in July that the Hammers turned down the chance to re-sign Tevez because the Argentinian forward was asking for a contract that would pay him £250,000 per week, reportedly making him the highest-paid player in the club's history.

On paper, and assuming Sullivan was telling the truth, it looks like West Ham made the right decision. Tevez is a god among Hammers supporters after single-handedly and controversially saving the club from relegation during the 2006-07 Premier League season, but he is 32 years old and struggling to make an impact at Boca. - CC

6. Wilfried Bony

Formerly a ferocious beast at Swansea City, equally adept at muscling off defenders as he was at nodding and rifling into the onion bag at a rate of 25 goals in 43 starts, Wilfried Bony is coming off a miserable one-and-a-half seasons at Manchester City.

His first touch tends to resemble a volleyball player's bump, and throughout his stay in the northwest has appeared overawed by representing a club with lofty ambitions both in domestic travails and on the continent.

The Ivorian is in need of a fresh start, and West Ham could be wise in acquiring the 27-year-old on loan, but with the decision of turning a deal permanent lying solely in Stratford. - DR

5. Loic Remy

Like Bony, Loic Remy has suffered from not making the grade since a moving to a big club.

Incredibly, through two years of minimal opportunities at Chelsea, the former Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle United striker still boasts a goal-scoring rate of better than a goal every two Premier League starts and, at 29, could still have another prolific few years to offer.

Again, in a similar vain to an ideal approach for Bony, a season-long loan with an option to buy would be the best course of action for the Irons. - DR

4. Simone Zaza

Apparently Simone Zaza, purveyor of embarrassing penalty kicks and a first touch resembling Flubber meeting an anvil, is on his way to West Ham.

Though not the most graceful, the Italy international was an important aspect of Sassuolo's meteoric rise (although he admittedly missed the recent and most impressive Europa League qualification), having a knack for connecting with the ball with savage power and accuracy.

At 25, there is still room for improvement in Zaza's game, too. - DR

3. Islam Slimani

Having fought his way from Chabab Belouizdad, the Algerian club where he was produced, to Sporting Clube de Portugal, Islam Slimani is one of the most sought-after strikers in European football.

Slimani tallied 27 goals as Sporting pushed Benfica all the way to the final matchday of the 2015-16 Primeira Liga, using his power and expertise to leave defenders for dead on a weekly basis. Unfortunately for West Ham, the reports linking the Algerian forward and the Hammers have been weak at best, and it's hard to imagine the 28-year-old's services on display at London Stadium. - CC

2. Carlos Bacca

If AC Milan's first fixture of the 2016-17 Serie A season is anything to go by, West Ham missed out on one of the planet's deadliest strikers in Carlos Bacca.

After Bacca's transfer to West Ham failed to materialise and the Colombian forward decided to stay put at Milan, the 29-year-old tallied his first-ever hat trick for the Rossoneri in their 3-2 victory over Torino. All three of his shots on target found the back of the net, replicating his form from last season, in which he scored 20 goals with only 39 shots on target.

Arguably no one makes the most of his opportunities quite like Bacca, and reports in Italy claimed West Ham responded to the hat trick by submitting a new bid for the Colombian.

However, it appears to be too little, too late for the Hammers. - CC

1. Alexandre Lacazette

With Arsenal apparently nearing a deal for Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez, West Ham could be encouraged to resurrect its interest in Olympique Lyonnais' free-scoring forward Alexandre Lacazette now there's less competition.

The Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes outfit is prepared to fight to retain the 25-year-old's services, and the player himself has stated that there will be no movement in this window, but money talks. In the new plush surroundings of the London Stadium, Lacazette would provide a huge welcoming gift for the supporters and a signing capable of lifting the Hammers into the top four.

Over the previous two seasons, Lacazette has 48 goals to his name, and already has five in two outings in this campaign. - DR