Source: Eurosport
Upson desperate for Champions League action
Matthew Upson is "desperate" to play in the Champions League - and hopes West Ham's new owners will match his own ambitions by helping manager Gianfranco Zola strengthen the squad.
The Barclays Premier League club has been sold to a group of Icelandic banks in a deal understood to be worth just over £100million. The new owners are CB Holding, and have indicated funds will be made available for transfers.
England defender Upson, currently training with the national team ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Wembley, welcomed the news.
However, the 30-year-old made it clear he needs to be playing at the highest level to help cement his bid for a place in Fabio Capello's starting XI ahead of Chelsea captain John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, currently out injured, who are both regulars in Europe's elite club competition.
"Playing in the Champions League every season definitely puts you in a position where you can compete against the best players in the world," said Upson, who played in the Champions League during his time with Arsenal before leaving to join Birmingham in 2003.
"I know that the Premier League holds a lot of those players, but worldwide there is a lot of different talent, different tactical situations you are going to find yourself in other than the Premier League. That definitely favours them [Ferdinand and Terry], to be playing in that tournament every year."
