West Ham United Football Club

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35595

Ashton set for new deal talks

15 May 2008 - 12:31:31

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West Ham United are keen to tie Dean Ashton down to a new long-term contract and will hold talks with the former Crewe Alexandra and Norwich City striker on Friday.

The 25-year-old has endured two injury-ravaged seasons at Upton Park but was back to his best in the closing weeks of the campaign just ended.

Ashton has scored 17 times in 51 first-team appearances for the club with 11 of those coming this season, including five in his last eight matches.

The former England Under-21 international still has two years left on his current contract, but the Hammers' chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's official website: "The end of the season was the appropriate time to discuss such matters and to meet Dean Ashton and his representatives.

"We will sit down on Friday with a view to agreeing a new long-term contract to keep Dean Ashton at Upton Park.

"Everyone at West Ham United is committed to taking the club forward."