West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists he's never made a move for Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov.

Zola - who had a spell coaching the Italian Under-21 squad before taking charge at West Ham in mid-September - branded claims by Manchester City forward Bojinov he had been in touch over a possible transfer as "a lie".

"I never spoke to him. It is a lie, and the club is dealing with it," Zola declared.

"I do respect the player and like the player, but I have no interest to have him at West Ham."