Hammers stars Thomas Hitzlsperger and Demba Ba will be allowed to leave Upton Park if they activate clauses in their contracts.

Hammers stars Thomas Hitzlsperger and Demba Ba are two of the big names that West Ham are hoping to keep at Upton Park for their Championship campaign next season, but it seems their futures are very much in their own hands.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has insisted that the club will only look to sell three players and with those likely to be Scott Parker, Robert Green and Carlton Cole, it is clear that they are hopeful of securing the services of the two internationals.

But both have relegation clauses in their contracts and are likely to look to move during the summer transfer window.

Hitzlsperger, who arrived on a free transfer from Lazio last Summer, would be allowed on a free transfer, but the clause in Ba’s contract is very different, it is understood a fee will need to be paid if he is to be prized away from Upton Park and the Hammers are likely to want at least the �5million transfer fee they agreed with German outfit Hoffenheim for the striker, who scored seven goals for West Ham since his arrival in January.

With Matty Upson and Kieron Dyer both being released, saving in the region of �150,000 a week in wages, and the transfer fees likely to be gleaned from Parker, Green and Cole, West Ham will certainly have a little leeway in their budget and that could give them the confidence to persuade Hitzlsperger and Ba to stay, at least until January when some idea of their likely finishing position will be known.

One stumbling block for any potential suitors for the two players is their fitness. Ba failed medicals at both Stoke and West Ham before the Hammers took a gamble on the Senegal international, while it is rumoured that Hitzlsperger, who missed the first six months of the Premier League season with a thigh injury, also failed a medical before signing last summer.

With the West Ham bosses looking to obtain the services of a high profile manager for their Championship tilt, getting both Hitzlsperger and Ba to stay, may be the catalyst to enable them to do just that.