Source: SKY_Sports
Kovac eyes permanent deal
Radoslav Kovac is confident of turning his loan move from Spartak Moscow to West Ham into a permanent deal in the summer.
Currently on loan at Upton Park until the end of the season the defensive midfielder has impressed since settling to the pace of the Premier League.
After waiting patiently for his opportunity the 29-year-old has now started the club's last five games with the Hammers losing just once.
Having slotted in nicely alongside Scott Parker in the Hammers midfield the Czech Republic international is eager to prolong his stay at the club.
"When I spoke with the club's chairman, he told me that they would be willing to have me stay," he told deniksport.cz.
"But the clause is not the most convenient one so I hope we will come to an agreement somehow in the summer.
"West Ham's stadium Upton Park has the capacity of 35,000 and is always sold-out. I love it.
"Moreover, I am satisfied with the staff and my team-mates. Training sessions are great so it is just a pity that I am here only on loan."
With seventh place likely to be enough to secure Uefa Cup, or the Uefa Europa League football as it will be called next season, the eighth placed Hammers face a realistic chance of playing on the continent next year.
But Kovac is quick to play down the possibility, insisting that other teams around them will be favourites to finish above them.
"We will see. If we can stay where we are now, it will have been great," he added.
"We must go from one match to another as we don't have as strong a team as the top clubs or Tottenham, who will surely go upwards.
"Eight rounds later we will see where we are. But it is clear that it will be a difficult time. (Gianfranco) Zola said ahead of the Blackburn game that if we would make 12 points out of the remaining eight games, we might be in the Uefa Cup."
The former Sparta Prague ace has also been impressed with manager Gianfranco Zola's footballing ideology, with free flowing football at a premium under the little Italian.
"He wants us to keep the ball and loves short passes," he highlighted.
"Our striker Carlton Cole is very helpful in this aspect. He is amazing as he can keep the ball at his feet.
"He has been out through suspension for the last two games and we are looking forward to seeing him back. With him we will be stronger."
Kovac also stated that the club is in a better place without striker Craig Bellamy who left for Manchester City in January.
The midfielder never played with the Welshman for the Hammers and states that he is only going off what his team-mates have told him.
"They are glad he is not in the team. They say he is a maniac," he explained.
"He shouted at everyone who did not pass the ball to him in training, it was crazy. His departure has been a positive thing for the players."
