GIANFRANCO ZOLA hopes to have signed a new contract with West Ham ‘in the next few weeks’.

It emerged last week that the Italian was in advanced talks with the club about a new four-year deal, after guiding the team to the cusp of European qualification this season.

And he is glad that the club have recognised his achievements with a lucrative offer.

“The club is looking after us and we are talking about [new four-year contracts] and it’s looking good,” he said. “Maybe it will happen during the next few weeks. The club has been very good to us and we appreciate that.

“It’s very good for me and I don’t just mean that financially. It’s good to see that the club appreciates what you’re doing and that they’re trying to look after us. It gives me a boost for the future.”

With the team sitting pretty in seventh, and on the verge of a Europa League place, Zola has good reason to be impressed with his work during his first seven months in management.

“Things are working very well and we’re very pleased. We’ve worked very hard to achieve what we have right now and we’re determined to keep improving,” he added. “We’re delighted to see our project coming together so well. It feels so good.

“It was my dream and expectation to be high up the table. When you start something you have ambitions to achieve something really important but you never know just where you are going to get or how close you’ll come to getting what you want.”

The feel-good factor has transcended down to the players, and defensive stalwart Matthew Upson is keen to see Zola extend his stay at Upton Park.

“I think it could mean exciting times at the club next season, without a doubt. If we can get some players back fit and bring a couple of new players in, then this club and team can really go places.

“We are under fantastic guidance and management with Gianfranco, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen, who all do a fantastic job.

“I don’t know anything about that (contract talks), because I’m just a player, but for me the longer he can stay at the club the better. He has done brilliantly since he came in, he has a very good relationship with the players who all respect him, so I think next season could be very interesting for West Ham.”