West Ham United are now 'shopping in a new market' thanks to the ambition shown by the Hammers' hierarchy, according to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.

There may have been a lack of fresh faces during the January transfer window, but it appears boss David Moyes could be allowed to splash the cash in order to welcome reinforcements to the London Stadium before next season gets underway.

Who have West Ham been linked with?

According to The Sun, West Ham are interested in striking a deal which would welcome Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi back to the Premier League this summer.

The report suggests it could take as much as £30million to tempt the Bundesliga outfit into selling the former Liverpool man, while Newcastle United are also in the hunt for his signature.

While capturing Awoniyi would bolster Moyes' forward options, it appears Germany centre-back Matthias Ginter has been identified as a potential option to boost West Ham's backline.

The 28-year-old has also been scouted by Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, while Aston Villa have expressed an interest ahead of his Borussia Monchengladbach contract expiring at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Moyes could return for targets he missed out on in January, with the West Ham chief understood to be ‘willing to wait’ until the summer after failing with a £50million bid for Leeds United central midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

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What has Paul Brown said about the situation?

Brown believes West Ham are now able to target players they could not have even contemplated welcoming to the London Stadium a matter of years ago.

The journalist insists co-owners David Gold, David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady have shown they are keen to take the Hammers to the next level.

Brown told GIVEMESPORT: "I think they are quite ambitious, and some West Ham fans might find it hard to believe with the owners.

"I do think they are shopping in a market now that was unavailable to them before."

What is the current ownership structure at West Ham?

David Sullivan and David Gold, who had previously worked together at Birmingham City, completed a takeover of their boyhood club in January 2010.

Sullivan initially controlled 51.5 per cent of West Ham’s assets, with Gold owning 35.1 per cent of the club, but the former’s shares have been reduced to 38.8 per cent.

That is because Czech investment group 1890s holdings a.s, which is headed up by Daniel Kretinsky, bought a 27 per cent stake in the Hammers last November.