Heading into their FA Cup Third Round clash against West Bromwich Albion, Andoni Iraola hinted that Bournemouth were in the market for a striker, after it was revealed earlier this week that both Evanilson and Enes Unal will be out of action for prolonged periods.
Despite already calling back Daniel Jebbison from his disappointing loan spell at Watford, Iraola suggested that the Cherries are on the hunt for another senior number nine due to the two freak injuries.
He said: “I think [the board] understand the situation.
"I know that they are looking at options in the market.
"Players can come on loan and help us in this period that we will be without our strikers, but I don’t know how much it will take.
"It’s not easy in the winter market, the striker is a special position and you never want to lose a number nine in the winter market.”
Although the Spanish coach will have a specific striker profile in mind, he understands that his ideal signing may not be available in the January transfer window.
“Now in the winter market it’s not the player you prefer, multiple times you have to choose from the ones that are available.
"In the summer, there is more time, there is more changes of teams, and you can look to a bigger picture.
"But now we have a spot there that is attractive, I suppose, for forwards and strikers and we like to make the right call and choose the proper striker to help us this season.”
Tomorrow’s opponents, West Brom, currently sit in the EFL Championship play-off spots, having lost only four league games so far this season.
Avoiding any potential for a third-round upset, Iraola believes various injuries to certain players will mean he cannot play a weakened squad on Saturday.
“The problem is we don’t have the players to change a lot because of the numbers we have.
"I don’t have a lot of options, you know.
"So, we have to think also that we have a week where we play another two Premier League games away against top teams and also very physical teams so next week is going to be very demanding and we have to try to be very careful with the players.
“But I want to be in the next round, I want to have another game, at least.”