West Ham United manager David Moyes has denied suggestions that the club are taking risks by continuing the campaign with only one recognised striker.
The Hammers were linked with several attacking players in January, including Benfica's Darwin Nunez, Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Reims' Hugo Ekitike; however, they failed to recruit anyone in the transfer window.
Speaking to the press ahead of Saturday lunchtime's FA Cup clash with non-league side Kidderminster Harriers, Moyes stated that he was not interested in recruiting backup options and only has his eyes set on signing "real competition" to compete with his only senior number nine Michail Antonio.
"There was no intention of taking any risk, I wouldn't use the word risk because we have other people who can play there," the Scotsman said.
"We were always trying to add to what we thought we could do. It would be hard to get better than Jarrod (Bowen) if we're talking about another striker.
"I didn't just want backup, I wanted real competition. I could have easily gone out and bought backup, easily. I wanted people who were actually going to take other people's jerseys and challenge them."
Antonio, who has scored nine goals in all tournaments this season, has predominantly featured as West Ham's central striker, while Bowen, who has also netted nine times this term, is another who Moyes has called upon to lead the line.
Oliver Thomas
