West Ham United co-chairman David Gold is hopeful that one "marquee" signing a year will take the club amongst the elite of English football.

The Hammers have signed the likes of Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis, Joe Cole and Andy Carroll in the past two seasons, and Gold has admitted that he hopes the Upton Park outfit will no longer be seen as a "selling club".

Gold told SportsDirect News: "We are slowly building a top team of top names and there is a strategic policy in place for that to continue. Kevin Nolan arrived as the first marquee signing in 2011, followed by Matt Jarvis last season for what was a record club transfer fee at £10m plus.

"We smashed that by several millions this season when we brought Andy Carroll to the club and it's now known that we have also been trying to make the Wilfried Bony move happen.

"The club has debt, everybody realises that, but as owners, we are determined to build a great team at this club and end the "selling club" image that we have suffered for too long."

West Ham finished in 10th place in the Premier League last season.