The struggling Hammers were brushed aside 4-0 by champions Manchester United at Upton Park on Saturday as Carlton Cole and Matthew Upson watched from the sidelines injured.

And Zola is now likely to have Zavon Hines out for a lengthy spell with a knee injury picked up in the first half, but will he have to sell to balance West Ham's stretched finances? That is the big question, but Zola was adamant.

Zola said: "As far as I know we will not be under pressure to sell. The club does not want to sell anybody. I stand by that. We will see what happens. Hopefully we are able to buy.

"We have to forget quickly about this game because they (Man Utd) are on a different level. We need to pick ourselves up. A couple of results can change things quickly."

United's supremacy was underlined when Darron Gibson, Scholes' successor-in-waiting, struck another thunderbolt in the second half. Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney completed the rout with tap-ins to leave West Ham in perilous territory at the wrong end of the table.

No wonder West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green vomited in his goalmouth and had to be substituted, the wooziness he felt at kick-off eventually catching up with him when the final goal went in.