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West Ham transfer news: No January signings is no problem, insists assistant boss Billy McKinlay

West Ham are continuing their hunt for forward reinforcements this month, but assistant boss Billy McKinlay insists they are ready to cope if no new signings arrive.

The Hammers are short in attack following injuries to Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio, while Mohammed Kudus is away with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The club has firm interest in Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn and Sunderland's Jack Clarke, but no deal for either appears close heading into the second half of the window.

"We're always looking to do business in terms of improving the squad," McKinlay said. "It's a really difficult window, as everyone always talks about in January. We'll be on the lookout to see if there's anything that we think can improve the squad, but we're fully focused on what's in the building."

David Moyes will have to turn to his fringe players when the Hammers travel to Bristol City tomorrow night for their FA Cup third-round replay, with the Scot desperately hoping that the likes of Said Benrahma, Danny Ings and Pablo Fornals can rediscover some form.

However, when asked whether it would be a problem if the club failed to make a signing, McKinlay added: "No, I don't think so. [For] every club, manager and coaching staff, that's the nature of the game and the job. But you're always better focusing on who's in the building. If you're worrying too much about who's not, then you'd be having a few sleepless nights all the time.

"We're concentrating on who we've got, and if that changes, then all good and well, but if it doesn't, then we're happy to go with who we've got."

Kudus, meanwhile, played no part in Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in their opening AFCON group match last night, having joined up late with the squad following a minor injury.

"He didn't play, so my understanding is he's still recovering from the slight hamstring injury he got in the last game [against Bristol City]," said McKinlay. "He didn't make last night and they've got another game coming up in two or three days. He might be closer to having an opportunity to play in that."