West Ham United coy over alleged interested in Manchester United striker Chicharito

West Ham United co-owner David Gold has delivered a coy response to suggestions the Hammers are interested in signing Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez to cover the club's attacking injury crisis.

The Independent has reported that the club are ready to test United's resolve with a £12m ($18.7m) bid for the Mexico international as the transfer window enters its final three weeks.

Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll will both miss significant chunks of the start of the season with separate knee problems, leaving Diafra Sakho and Modibo Maiga as West Ham's only senior centre forwards at the start of the Slaven Bilic era at Upton Park.

"We are looking for a striker, that is our key," Gold told Sky Sports upon being questioned regarding interest in Chicharito. "We have been very unfortunate to lose Enner Valencia, disappointingly even before the season kicked off.

"We already believed we needed a striker with Andy Carroll not rejoining the squad until September so we already needed a centre forward.

"Then losing Valencia makes it becomes of an issue so we must find, before the window closes, we must find a striker. We needed one at the beginning of the season, we can't go into the new season without bringing in one.

"Yes we'd like two but we have to be realistic. We know Andy can't be too far away and with a bit of luck Valencia will be back this year as oppose to next year and we might have to manage with one."

Chicharito, who Tottenham Hotspur have already denied interest in, spent last term on loan at Real Madrid. Louis van Gaal's failure to replace the departed Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao leaving the Old Trafford outfit with just three forward players.

Despite having not played for United for nearly a year, since last term's opening day defeat to Swansea City, Chicharito joins captain Wayne Rooney and youngster James Wilson as one of only three forwards available.

The 27 year old has been included in United's Champions League squad for their two-legged play-off tie against Club Brugge, where victory will ensure passage into the tournament's group stage.