West Ham can save millions in transfer market if David Moyes looks to his academy for solution

With a week left in the January transfer window, West Ham are once again left searching for a striker to add to their squad with the clock ticking on their attempts to bolster their ranks.

Since Sebastien Haller's departure last January, West Ham have been left with just Michail Antonio as their sole recognised senior striker. Jarrod Bowen and Andriy Yarmolenko have both been used in the role sporadically in Antonio's absence and youngster Sonny Perkins has emerged on the scene this season.

Perkins, 17, made his senior debut against Rapid Vienna in November during the Europa League encounter and almost made an instant impact off the bench. The striker was given a 12-minute run-out and only a superb save by the Rapid goalkeeper kept him from making it a perfect debut.

He was then handed his first start for the Hammers in the final Group H game, a home clash with Dinamo Zagreb, and played 87 minutes. As a result of his fine form for the academy teams, Perkins has found himself included in two Premier League matchday squads and made his league debut earlier this month with a three-minute appearance off the bench against Leeds United.

In the under-23 team, Perkins has netted six goals in 12 starts for the Premier League 2 leaders, including a superb strike on Monday afternoon during the 2-1 loss to Leicester City. After a wonderful bit of skill from Thierry Nevers to turn his marker and sprint upfield, Perkins took one touch to control, another to get the ball out of his feet before firing into the top corner from 18 yards out.

This clinical finishing has become his trademark and each performance in the under-23 team is proving why David Moyes chose Perkins as the youngster to lead the line against Dinamo.

If West Ham fail