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Slaven Bilic believes West Ham "prospects" Ashley Fletcher and Toni Martinez are capable of having a similar impact in the Premier League to Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

The youngsters, who joined the Hammers from United and Valencia respectively this summer, are both vying for a regular place in Bilic's first-team squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

But the Hammers have made no secret of their determination to bolster their front line further this summer as Bilic remains reluctant to have to rely on youth products, despite having no doubt about the potential at his disposal.

“[Ashley] Fletcher and [Toni] Martinez are prospects," he told the club's official website.

"Martinez has showed that he definitely has a future with West Ham, but we are competing in the Premier League and they are still too young.

“Some of them can do what [Marcus] Rashford did for Manchester United last season, but to play a full season with them from the start would not be the option we want.

"They can emerge and surprise and amaze us and the league, like Rashford, but we are still looking to get a striker if we can, but only if he is a better striker than what we have," Bilic added.

The Hammers are currently on tour in North America and drew 2-2 with Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday night in a game that had to be suspended for 40 minutes due to rain.

Winston Reid and Andy Carroll were on target for Bilic's side and the Croatian explained why other members of his strikeforce were not present.

“We don’t only have [Andy] Carroll. We have [Diafra] Sakho and [Enner] Valencia too. Sakho was injured and that’s why he was not here, and Valencia had a longer break because of Copa America,” said Bilic.

West Ham have been linked with several strikers throughout the transfer window and Standard Sport understands they will learn whether a bid to sign AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca has been successful before the end of the week.