West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has made his first signing of the summer with the capture of Argentine striker Mauro Zarate from Velez Sarsfield.

The 27-year-old has signed a three-year contract, with the option of a further year, as Allardyce strengthens his forward options after a troubled 2013-14 campaign in that department for the Hammers.

“My reaction is that I am very happy to be at West Ham,” the forward said in a press release.

The Hammers’ big-money buy last summer, Andy Carroll, spent half of the campaign on the sidelines through injury and left the team short of options up front. Allardyce, however, has wasted no time in finding support for Carroll with the deal for Zarate.

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