Quashie increases Hammers' options

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley hopes that increased competition for places will help dig his team out of trouble in the Barclays Premiership.

Curbishley completed his second signing of the January transfer window last night when he captured Scotland midfielder Nigel Quashie, 28, from West Brom in a deal that could be worth £1.75m (€2.6m).

Albion will receive a guaranteed £1.5m (€2.2m), plus a further £250,000 (€372,700) if the Hammers retain their top-flight status this term or regain it during any season in which Quashie is, or has been, under contract at Upton Park.

Curbishley, who signed Luis Boa Morte last week, told the club’s official website, www.whufc.com: “I want to reiterate that new players coming in doesn’t mean I’ve got to let people go.

"The competition for places is a factor that will be important to us as we fight to move up the table and it’s up to every member of the squad to prove that they deserve to be in the starting line up.

“We’ve signed Nigel because he is an experienced player who will add competition to our central midfield positions."