Alan Curbishley has denied he has been directed by Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson to slash the wage bill at West Ham.

Curbishley, whose biggest earners at Upton Park include Freddie Ljungberg, Lucas Neill and Kieron Dyer, said: "We are like all clubs, we want to improve, we might have to wheel and deal in the summer - but I have not been speaking to the chairman and had certain people brought up.

"I am under absolutely no pressure to do things which I do not want to do.

"I have got 28 senior players, but you need a squad and that has been shown this season."