Andy Carroll's season-ending injury has led West Ham United to search for a striker available on a free transfer, co-owner David Sullivan has revealed to LBC.
On Friday, it was announced that Carroll has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign after suffering a torn ligament in his knee.
Carroll's prolonged absence is likely to give Carlton Cole further first-team opportunities -- with the 31-year-old expected to lead the line in Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round meeting with West Brom.
The former Chelsea striker almost completed a deadline day move to The Hawthorns before West Ham called off the deal after their own attempts to land Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor on loan failed.
However, Sullivan has revealed the club are seeking back-up for Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Cole.
Sullivan said: "We are looking around the world to see if there are any out of contract strikers we can bring in to give us some sort of back-up."
Having already had surgery on a foot injury at the start of this season and with a heel problem sidelining him for seven months last year, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce knows Carroll must remain positive during yet another rehabilitation period.
"It is a completely new injury," Allardyce said. "We thought it might be a recurrence but we have analysed it, unfortunately it is a new one and looks more serious than the original one.
"It is traumatic when someone is going through a period where you overcome one injury and another occurs. We thought we were there and then [he was injured against] Liverpool and now this one in a short period of time.
"It is very depressing for Andy but he knows the process and he has to be strong to overcome this injury as quickly as possible."
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.