West Ham hopeful of re-signing Alex Song and replacing injury-stricken Enner Valencia

West Ham United co-owner David Gold says the club are planning to sign two further players during the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window, with the re-signing of Alex Song and a striker to replace Enner Valencia among the priorities.

Valencia suffered a knee and ankle injury against Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League and although the Ecuador international will not require surgery, he is expected to miss the start of the campaign. Record signing Andy Carroll is also out after knee surgery.

Song, meanwhile, made 28 Premier League appearances last season for West Ham and Gold says the club are working hard to recruit the former Cameroon international on a permanent basis and cover for the loss of Valencia, to add to the 10 signings already made this summer.

"We have lost Valencia for the beginning of the season," the West Ham chief told Sky Sports. "We were already believing that we required another striker in the squad and we will be doing everything in our power to bring in the best players we can.

"What I can tell you is our people David Sullivan in particular, [manager] Slaven [Bilic] of course, are working very, very hard to bring in the best players we can. We enjoyed Alex Song's contribution last season.

"These things [signing a striker] are ongoing, we're not panicking. We're not going to do poor deals, we're going to do sensible deals. By the time we kick-off we should be in good shape. I would have thought that at least two new players, not necessarily before we kick-off but before the window closes [will be signed]."

By the time West Ham start their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on 9 August, the club will have played six matches in the preliminary stages of the Europa League, with the second leg of the third-qualifying round game against Astra on 6 August.