Di Michele eyes Hammers stay

West Ham striker David Di Michele wants to stay at Upton Park beyond the end of the season when his loan from Serie A side Torino expires.

The Hammers are reported to have an option to sign the 33-year-old Italian, who has started 13 Barclays Premier League games this season and scored four times.

“Now I’m at West Ham and it is right not to speak of the market,” Di Michele told Melito Online. “I am doing well and it is certainly the will for me to stay here at the end of the season.”

Di Michele has been suggested as a possible target for his former club Palermo, and he added: “Never say never, we will see in the future, but I’m good here.”

Gianfranco Zola’s men, who are in the hunt for Europa League qualification, were last in action a week ago and their next game is not until Monday, when they host West Brom.

Centre-back Matthew Upson said: “We are going to recharge the batteries.

“We have a lot of players who have played nearly every match this season, so it is a good rest and we have a couple of fixtures coming up where we can pick up points.”