WEST Ham's Freddie Ljungberg has played down talks of him leaving the club in the summer.

According to media reports, Alan Curbishley is touting the former Arsenal star to other clubs.

The Irons boss is apparently desperate to lower the club's wage bill - Ljungberg is said to be amongst the top earners on £80,000 a week - and start giving more playing time to his latest crop of talented youngsters.

However, the 30-year-old (pictured) believes he is playing a key role at Upton Park and is looking forward to a bright future with the club.

"We have worked really well and I think I was voted the best player last month so I can't really complain," he told setantasports.com.

"Maybe there will be people leaving - we have a very big squad and maybe they will if they are going to bring in some players.

"But I think whatever the manager does to make the squad better or the team better, that is a good thing."

Ljungberg was one of several big name players to join the east Londoners in the summer as the club looked to buy its way into Europe.

Although it hasn't quite worked out like that this season - the Hammers are tenth in the Premier League and looking unlikely to break into the top five or six - the Sweden captain is confident that new players will arrive in the summer to take the club to the next level.

And he for one is relishing the challenge. "I am looking forward to next season," he said.

"When I joined they said they wanted to build a new team and, maybe a little bit like Chelsea did,they are willing to spend the money to make a great side.

"That is probably the same thing we will do this summer - spend a bit and go a bit further on."

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