TOTTENHAM midfielder Jamie O'Hara has hinted he is nearing the White Hart Lane exit, with West Ham reportedly in the hunt for his signature.

O'Hara, who played under Hammers boss Avram Grant with Portsmouth last season, is on the brink of returning from a back injury but is concerned he may not have a future with Spurs.

“I want to be a key part of the team. I've always wanted to do that at Tottenham but if it doesn't work out then I'll have to look elsewhere,” he said.

Speaking about the rumoured interest from West Ham, O'Hara added: “I've heard all these rumours about West Ham but to be honest I haven't had any conversations with them at all so I don't know where it's coming from.

“I want to go to a club where I can put some roots down and hopefully become a fan favourite and stay at a club for a few years. I don't want to be coming into clubs playing for three months, coming back.

“I've never wanted to leave Tottenham but there comes a point in your career if you're not playing games you've got to look at yourself and think 'well this is my career. I want to be playing football'. I'm not one of those people that want to sit on the bench and play one in four.”

O'Hara, 24, also admitted he was impressed with Grant during his time on the south coast.

“I always had a great relationship with Avram. I see him as a philosopher of football, he wasn't the sort of guy who gets up off the bench screaming and shouting – he's not that type of person.

“He took a calmer approach to it, kind of like Arsene Wenger in a way. It just hasn't worked out for him (at West Ham). Hopefully he'll stay in the job.”