Financial worries at Upton Park may dictate the need to sell England international.

Premier League: Hammers Roar On

West Ham are set to lose England defender Matthew Upson after the club’s cash-strapped Icelandic owners ordered them to raise £10million from player sales before the close of the transfer window.

Despite previously stating that Gianfranco Zola would be under no pressure to sell players, Icelandic bank Straumur, who own West Ham through CB Holdings, have told chief executive Scott Duxbury he must raise cash in the coming weeks.

Straumur are desperately trying to stave off bankruptcy by pacifying their creditors and Upson is the most bankable asset at Upton Park.

The former Luton and Arsenal defender, 30, has previously been linked with Manchester City, in the event of Mark Hughes failing to prise Joleon Lescott out of Everton, and with Tottenham, but he might also be an attractive option for England’s four Champions League clubs. (Mail on Sunday)

After failing to tempt John Terry and seeing Everton fight tooth and nail to hold on to Joleon Lescott, it appears that Mark Hughes must opt for plan c and attempt to persuade cash strapped West Ham to sell Matthew Upson.

Earlier this summer the Hammers centre back claimed he needed to consider a move to a Champions League level side in order to press for a regular spot in the England starting eleven so quite how a move to Eastlands would suffice is hard to say.

The 30 year old former Arsenal man was in the form of his career last term at Upton Park but may be offloaded to cover debts and that will greatly worry Gianfranco Zola who was hoping to push on from last seasons promising campaign but will struggle to find a more reliable defender than Upson.

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