Danny Ings is the latest striker to be linked with a move to West Ham ahead of the summer transfer window...

What's the word?

According to talkSPORT's transfer guru Alex Crook, the Irons have an interest in the 28-year-old Southampton talisman, he revealed:

"They’ve got an interest in Danny Ings at Southampton as well, although, my understanding is that he has a gentleman’s agreement with Saints that he will only leave if either of the two Manchester clubs come in for him."

Ings will enter the final year of his current £75k-per-week deal this summer and the upcoming window could present an opportunity for the south-coast side to cash in before risking losing him for free.

He is currently valued at €20m (£18m) by CIES Football Observatory, whilst it remains to be seen what sort of fee could tempt the Saints into a sale.

Statement signing

With the Hammers firmly in contention to qualify for Europe this season, it is no secret that David Moyes will want reinforcements if they are to give a good account of themselves next term.

It is even more obvious that a new striker is required after the club's owners - GSB - failed to provide the 58-year-old with a replacement for Sebastien Haller, who departed for Ajax in January, leaving Michail Antonio as the only senior forward in the squad.

That decision has already proved disastrous as the 31-year-old is facing further time on the sideline, as usual, and he cannot be relied upon for the entire duration of one season.

Tammy Abraham is one name that has been firmly linked with a move to the London Stadium in recent weeks.

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Club legend Trevor Sinclair claimed to talkSPORT that the Chelsea outcast "would be a great match for West Ham," and that "it’s what they need with Antonio’s injuries."

Whilst the 23-year-old has plenty of goalscoring credentials and is a top player in his own right, it is thought that the Blues will aim to raise around £40m from his departure in the summer, which is double what Ings is currently worth and it's the Saints man who has proven his ability over a larger timeframe.

Of course, age is not on his side but the 5 foot 10 marksman has found the net 11 times this term, more than any Hammers star, and has bagged 44 goals in only 96 appearances since joining Southampton.

Ex-Premier League forward Clinton Morrison once compared Ings to Robbie Keane for his "first-class" movement, whilst his current manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has lauded his exploits as "unbelievable".

Also dubbed a "monster" with "confidence flowing in his veins," a player of Ings' calibre could be exactly what's needed in East London to take the Irons onto that next level.

Moyes must ensure this season wasn't a one-off and he will need a prolific and consistent goalscorer to aid that goal. David Sullivan and co must not let him down this summer and sanction a move for the former Liverpool star.

He should be a far cheaper option than Abraham and that'll undoubtedly tempt GSB's tight pockets.

AND in other news, Irons handed major injury doubt ahead of run-in, Moyes will be hugely concerned...