We can attract top players - Pardew

West Ham manager Alan Pardew is confident he can now sign Champions League calibre players instead of having to sell them off.

Pardew has just put pen to paper on a new five-year contract at Upton Park after securing assurance that significant funds would be made available to him in the transfer window.

Porto striker Benny McCarthy is likely to remain top of his shopping list and Pardew believes the Hammers’ impressive start to the Premiership season means players are now looking more favourably on a switch to east London.

“The one problem I had in the summer was convincing some really good players to come to West Ham,” Pardew said.

“Now players can look at us and see we have done really well so perhaps they would like to come now. We are certainly getting more calls from agents anyway.

“We are armed with a budget for players who could potentially play in the Champions League. It’s not Chelsea’s budget, or Manchester United’s, but it will give me a chance to bring success to the club at some point.

“(Before signing my contract) there was a lot of talking regarding the future because the investment was important to me. I’m not striving for mediocrity. I want us to achieve things and the figures that were talked about gives me a good chance.”

The Upton Park faithful will be desperate to see that come true having seen the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Jermain Defoe establish themselves in the England camp after leaving Upton Park.

Pardew said: “I don’t have to sell anybody, which is fantastic news for the West Ham fans with the young players we have got on board already.

“I think if you asked any true West Ham supporter what their biggest grievance of the last period was I think selling our best players would be number one on the agenda.

“It is old news but it is evident most weeks for England and in the Premiership.

“When I arrived that was a key thing I had to stop. If I sell a player now it will be on my agenda.”

The Hammers are currently in ninth place following last week’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool and will be hoping to gain ground on their rivals by getting the better of West Brom at Upton Park on Saturday.