Boa Morte joins Curbishley's survival bid

Transfer news:Alan Curbishley yesterday took a swipe at West Ham's summer signings and claimed he needs to attract higher-quality players to the club this month.

Curbishley completed his first signing as West ham manager by bringing Luis Boa Morte (29) to Upton Park from Fulham for £5 million on a three-and-a-half year contract, and hopes to add more to aid his team's fight against relegation from the English Premiership.

In a thinly-veiled attack on former manager Alan Pardew, however, Curbishley blamed West Ham's close-season captures for failing to establish themselves in the first team at Upton Park.

"The squad was made larger in the summer, but the players who came in have not put pressure on the players who were here already," Curbishley said. "That is not how it should be. Players who come in should make the situation stronger.

"The likes of (Lee) Bowyer, (Jonathan) Spector, (John) Paintsil, (Tyrone) Mears, (Carlton) Cole, (Javier) Mascherano and (Carlos) Tevez have not managed to stay in the team, neither under Alan Pardew, nor under me.

"I want the players we are looking to sign to be able to go straight into the team. We need players who have the right amount of experience.

"Everyone keeps telling me the players we have are better than what they are producing, but it is about time the talking stopped and the performances started."

Curbishley expressed his desire to bring in experienced players while the window remains open - although the 49-year-old remained cagey about rumours he was to try to sign Charlton striker Darren Bent for the second time.

Charlton boss Pardew revealed yesterday he would listen to offers for Bent, whom Curbishley brought to The Valley from Ipswich in the summer of 2005.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has signed David Unsworth from Sheffield United until the end of the season.

The veteran's arrival allowed fellow defender Andy Webster to join Rangers from United. The 24-year-old Scotland international becomes the first new arrival since the dramatic departure of manager Paul Le Guen.

West Brom revealed yesterday they have rejected a bid understood to be around £5 million from Tottenham for captain Curtis Davies.