Cash-Strapped West Ham United To Sell £10 Million Matthew Upson – Report
A British tabloid claims that off-field issues could force the Hammers into selling their key defender...
9 Aug 2009 09:30:10

West Ham United may be forced to sell defender Matthew Upson in order to raise finances before the end of the transfer window, according to a report in a British newspaper.

The Mail on Sunday claims that the Hammers’ Icelandic owners need to raise £10 million in player sales and could be set to jettison Upson in order to achieve the required funds.

Manager Gianfranco Zola has previously insisted he is under no financial restraints at Upton Park, yet that situation appears to have changed in recent weeks.

Indeed, the British tabloid even claims that chief executive Scott Duxbury has been ordered to raise £10 million before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Upson has been at the club since signing from Birmingham City in 2007 but has openly admitted he wants to play Champions League football in order to enhance his international prospects.

Manchester City have already been linked with a move for the 30-year-old, should their attempts to sign Joleon Lescott fall through, yet he may also prove a tempting option for one of his former clubs Arsenal.