New West Ham technical director Gianluca Nani insists he will not demolish the Hammers academy, despite hoping to unearth top overseas talent.

Nani has agreed a three-year contract with West Ham and will join in the summer from Brescia, where he has helped develop the likes of Italian World Cup winners Andrea Pirlo and Luca Toni.

Hammers manager Alan Curbishley has brought Nani on board after admitting he needs help finding his way in the global transfer market.

Nani's main responsibility at West Ham will be to work with Curbishley on new signings, while also improving the club's international scouting network and developing the famed youth academy.

Arsenal's success in recruiting talented young players is clearly an inspiration for West Ham and the Brescia academy is also multi-national.

But Nani and Curbishley both stressed the importance of promoting home-grown talent at the club.

Freddie Sears, the latest off the production line, scored on his debut against Blackburn on Saturday as West Ham came from behind to win 2-1.

Nani said: "We are in a global market. We will try to find the best foreign players - but that doesn't mean we will break what is the best academy in England, maybe in the world.

"We must improve the English players too because the fans like to recognise a player. We have to keep the tradition of bringing through English players.

"We have to be proud of the work that has gone before in producing players like Frank Lampard Jnr and with Joe Cole.

"We have to follow this tradition - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to sign players like Kaka or Adriano when they are young.

"This club has incredible potential. It is ambitious and we want the club to meet that potential."

Curbishley, himself a product of the Hammers academy, realised last year West Ham were lagging behind other Barclays Premier League clubs when it came to recruitment at all levels, from the youth team to the first team.

"I need to have my eyes opened," he said. "I need more information. At the moment we are limited in our choices.

"Football is a global business now and at the moment I don't think we are in a position to compete.

"In Gianluca we have brought in a man who can help me enormously in what I want to do and help push the club forward.

"We need that knowledge and I haven't got that knowledge.

"That network and infrastructure is something we are lacking at the club and will be beefed up.

"It will give us as much a chance of securing home-grown talent, foreign talent, young players, experienced players, as the other clubs.

"If you look at the top of the Premier League, the clubs have people out there constantly trying to bring that talent to the club. That is what we feel we need.

"It will not hinder the traditions of this club but we have got to compete more," added Curbishley.

Team Talk / Eurosport