West Ham need to upgrade on Michail Antonio if they want to go to the next level, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Antonio enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign in front of goal but he has struggled to replicate his early-season form in recent months.

How has Antonio performed this season?

When West Ham's all-time top Premier League goalscorer scored four goals and registered three assists in his first four top-flight outings this term, their failure to sign a striker last summer quickly became a thing of the past.

Antonio was playing arguably the best football of his career, netting twice in a 4-1 victory over Leicester before scoring winners against both Leeds and Tottenham.

After nine league games, Antonio had chipped in with nine goal involvements as the Hammers sat third, just three points behind leaders Chelsea heading into November.

But Antonio's numbers have dropped off dramatically recently, with only two Premier League goals in his last 20 games, while his only other strike during that period came against Southampton in the FA Cup.

As a result of Antonio's poor form, West Ham are now in a battle to secure European football for next season, with Sunday's defeat at Tottenham their eighth loss in their last 19 league matches.

Therefore, having previously been looking for someone to come in as Antonio's understudy, Jones believes that David Moyes now needs to upgrade on the Jamaica international.

What did Jones say about West Ham?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "If West Ham want to improve on what they have done this season then that includes getting a striker that is better than Antonio."

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Have West Ham been linked with anyone?

The names of Eddie Nketiah and Ben Brereton-Diaz have been thrown about in recent months, although neither of those are proven or a clear upgrade on Antonio.

Nketiah might be a free agent, but he's scored just five goals in almost 50 Premier League appearances, while Brereton-Diaz has never played in England's top-flight, compared to Antonio who's scored 58 times for the Hammers, all but four of which have come in the league.

Armando Broja is another on West Ham's list, with his future at Chelsea in doubt with all the off the field problems at Stamford Bridge. Broja has impressed on loan at Southampton this season, scoring nine goals in 31 games and would be an excellent signing for the Hammers.

Meanwhile, they saw a bid turned down for Benfica frontman Darwin Nunez in January, and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano believes that Moyes' side will return in the summer.

Whoever West Ham end up signing this summer, they need to finally replace Sebastien Haller, or bridging the gap on the top four is going to remain a tough task.