The Hammers have earned a reputation for spending big over the last couple of years but the Upton Park hierarchy is now keen to balance the books.

The Mirror newspaper claims West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is under strict orders to cut the club’s wage bill this summer with Neill, Freddie Ljunberg and Kieron Dyer potential casualties of this approach.

Billionaire business tycoon Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is determined to reign in the club's massive spending since heading an £85million Icelandic takeover of the club 15 months ago.

Curbishley will be told to shake-up the squad and that will leave £80,000- a-week-plus men Ljungberg, Neill and Dyer at risk. All three were signed on big contracts by former chairman Eggert Magnusson.

Neill turned down an offer from Liverpool to join the Hammers from Blackburn Rovers last season but denied he had simply been lured by a large paypacket.

He said at the time: "The club has big plans."

Now though Gudmundsson wants to reduce the wage bill as well as trimming the squad. That could mean West Ham may be ready to sell some of their other top players, with several clubs looking at keeper Robert Green and striker Dean Ashton.

Ironically, Curbishley’s own position could be strengthened because Gudmundsson wants to steady the ship rather than carry on spending big and possibly bringing in an expensive new manager.