By Julian Shea

Magnusson (right) has money for Curbishley to spend

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley says he will not be held to ransom by other clubs in the summer transfer market.

Chairman Eggert Magnusson says West Ham's perceived wealth means clubs are inflating prices but Curbishley said he will not spend for the sake of it.

"People are looking at us as new kids on the block but we're not," he said.

"If something happens which we think can improve us we'll have a go but I'm not going to sign 11 players and get everybody out."

Curbishley replaced Alan Pardew as West Ham manager in December 2006, a month after Magnusson took over at Upton Park.

He was active in the January transfer window but the only two new signings who played a significant role in their successful fight against relegation were Lucas Neill and Luis Boa Morte.

Curbishley says this shows that he already has great resources at his disposal without having to bring in more players.

If nothing else happens between now and the kick-off, I've got a squad and a lot to work with

"If you look at the team who won at Old Trafford on the last day of the season, most of them were already here, so that shows the talent we have," he said.

"It's a strong squad when the players are all fit.

"Danny Gabbidon was player of the year the season before but I didn't really see him because of injury, I've not seen Dean Ashton and I've hardly seen Matthew Upson. Those two are �13m-worth of players who've not kicked a ball in a long time.

"We've got a strong squad but if I can add to it, I will.

"But if nothing else happens between now and the kick-off, I've got a squad and a lot to work with."

Scott Parker, who grew up playing under Curbishley at Charlton, is the only new arrival of the summer so far.

Curbishley said he admired Parker's work ethic and hoped to instil this in the rest of the squad to ensure a strong start to the new campaign and avoid a repetition of last season's flirtation with relegation.

"When he was at Charlton, he was the life and soul of everything we did but he probably got swallowed up a bit at Chelsea and Newcastle.

"I'd like him to be the life and soul here too, to set the benchmark for the rest of the players.

"If he brings his potential with him, the fans here will respond to that. I'm hoping that on the first day of pre-season, everyone realises what it's all about."