Hammers' Diego Tristan deal

West Ham today attempted to put down a positive marker for the future of the club by signing former Spain international Diego Tristan.

The 32-year-old striker who, in his pomp, scored 78 goals in 177 matches for Deportivo La Coruna, is a free agent after leaving Italian club Livorno and has signed a permanent deal until the end of the season.

With a £50million compensation claim by Sheffield United hanging over their heads and the problems of the on-going credit crunch, owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is considering selling up.

But the club's chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "The focus of our squad is about quality not quantity and we are sure Diego is a quality addition."