Hands off Ashton

Last Modified: 10 May 2008
Source: ITN

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is determined to hold on to striker Dean Ashton this summer.

Ashton has been linked with a move to Manchester United and Curbishley admits the top clubs in the Premier League will use their spending power to target the best players at other clubs.

But he wants Ashton to stay at Upton Park and plans to play him alongside Criag Bellamy next season.

Curbishley said: "Every club outside the top four has this problem every summer. Even Spurs and people like that are going to come under pressure.

"But since the new group took over West Ham we have tried to push forward and I don't see selling players as a way of pushing forward.

"I want to see certain combinations of players that I haven't had a chance to see. I want to play Craig Bellamy with Dean Ashton. I am enthusiastic about when we join up again."

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