West Ham are targeting a top-six finish next season after a disappointing season which saw them finish 13th, seven points off relegation.

Co-chairman David Sullivan has heaped the pressure on manager Sam Allardyce to deliver better football next season and has started the club’s transfer business early with Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate and Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate arriving.

Former Hammers striker Teddy Sheringham has also been hired as an attacking coach to improve the club’s goalscoring which saw them score 40 goals in 38 games.

“Our supporters are realistic, they know it is a huge and difficult task to break into the top six but we must be aiming for that, even if we don’t achieve it,” said Sullivan. 

“You can’t just look to stay up.”

New signing Kouyate arrives from Belgian champions Anderlecht for an undisclosed fee after signing a four-year deal with West Ham and is looking forward to playing in the Premier League.

“For my part, I am going to try to do great things here and try to improve further still as a player,” said 24-year-old Kouyate.