David Moyes says a lack of options on the market could see West Ham go another transfer window without signing a striker.
The Hammers have just one senior forward in their squad in Michail Antonio, and the 31-year-old is prone to hamstring injuries.
Moyes has been keen not to waste money on a replacement for Sebastien Haller since he was sold to Ajax for £20million in January, and is not "overly confident" that the Hammers will add one before the close of the window.
"I wouldn't say I'm overly confident," said Moyes.
"But I think that's mainly due to the availability. It's not that West Ham don't want to sign a striker, or that I don't want to buy one or the owners don't want to buy one. It's more to do with the availability.
"I don't want to bring players to the club who are not going to be valuable.
"I could tick a box and sign a centre-forward which the media or everybody else would accept, maybe even the supporters. But I'm only going to bring players who I think will offer something to this team.
"I could sign a centre-forward but I'm trying to find one who I think will contribute, make a difference, help us and finding that at the right value, as well as having good statistical numbers; [it] isn't that easy."
Haller is a prime example of the money West Ham have wasted on signings in the years before Moyes' return.
Ajax paid West Ham £20m for the Ivory Coast international in January - less than half the £45m fee the Hammers initially paid for him - while Felipe Anderson, once a £36m club-record signing, was sold to Lazio for a nominal fee last month.
A defender is also on Moyes' wish list, but the Scot says he has no issues going into this season with the squad as it is now.
"I would be [confident with this squad], I am full of confidence in the players I have got," said Moyes. "We had a really small squad last year, it is smaller than when we finished last year but overall I trust every one of the players I am putting out at the moment.
“We had to use them all in the run-in last year, different ones had to come in at different times and none of them let us down. I’ve got full faith in all the players and what they can bring to the team."
