Just hours after Mayor of London Boris Johnson confirmed the Hammers’ move to the Olympic Stadium on Friday, Sullivan claimed West Ham hope to agree a deal for the mystery addition as early as next week.
The £10.75million fee paid for ex-Wolves winger Matt Jarvis is West Ham’s current record but Sullivan says the club are ready to break it as they bid to reach new heights in their new 54,000-seater stadium.
“I’m seeing somebody on Monday and, if we sign the player, he would be the most expensive player the club’s ever signed,” said Sullivan, before hinting that the player in question is a striker.
“We lack goals in the team,” he continued. “We’ve got to sign a top class striker from somewhere.”
Sullivan added that it was not a done deal yet but said the club will pursue other transfer targets if their plans fall through.
“Maybe it will be this guy on Monday, maybe it will be somebody else,” he said.
“We have a number of big targets and he is one of them. It’s spending your money wisely, and often you need a bit of luck.”
The 64-year-old expects more transfer funds to become available after the Olympic Stadium move in 2016, and he plans to continue spending until then.
“I hope we get one this year and over the years I hope we get more,” he said. “Once we have moved, we will have more money available.
“Relative to the size of our club, we spend big money, and we will continue to spend money.
“If we spend £12-£14m on a player this summer, in three or four years time it might be £30-£40m. We believe in spending on key players.
“We realise we have got to buy better and spend more money but it is a gradual build up.”
Sullivan insists he and joint-chairman David Gold remain open to overseas investment and says they would even step aside if the right offer came in.
“We have always said if the king of Saudi Arabia wants to come along, we will step aside,” he said. “We have always said that.
“Or, if another person wants to come and join us, three of us will put the money in.”
Sullivan hopes the Olympic Stadium move and the right backing can lift West Ham into the Premier League’s top four but knows it will take time to close the gap on the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
“Hands on our heart, it is very difficult to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City, where they have external benefactors.
“Manchester United are a very special club because of the Munich situation.
“It is very hard to match those three clubs, and Arsenal have got the Emirates, so it will take some time.
“But over time, we hope to close that gap. Our aim is still to finish third or fourth in the table.”
