West Ham United co-chairman David Sullivan has made it clear that Diafra Sakho will not be sold until the club finds a quality replacement.

The Senegalese striker is desperate to move away from East London this summer in a bid to find regular first-team football elsewhere but the Hammers have no intention to sell if a new attacker is not brought in.

“He is not for sale until we get players in," Sullivan told the Daily Mail.

“Until we bring strikers in we simply cannot let strikers go.

“James Tomkins (sold to Crystal Palace) was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department. But until we get at least a couple of strikers we can't let any forward go."

Sakho, who has been linked with Sunderland, refused to travel with the West Ham squad for the pre-season training camp in Austria while handing in a transfer request.

It is believed that West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Newcastle United are also keen on the 26-year-old.