David Moyes
The Premier League’s winter break is underway with West Ham handed a 13 day break between their visit to Old Trafford and the FA Cup tie with Kidderminster Harriers. Before the Hammers’ next match, Moyes aims to be active in the transfer market and have some fresh faces available to him for the trip to Kidderminster.
David Moyes said: “I am still hopeful that we will add a couple of players before the window closes. We would like to add to the squad if we can, if we can find players who we think are more suitable we could do with some more back up if we can but there is never a guarantee in January with the players you want or if the right ones are available or gettable. But we are certainly looking around.”
Specifically, on a hunt for a forward
David Moyes said: “We have been trying for a couple of years to add a striker to the group but we have not been able to. We have had quite a few offers for players at different times that have not been accepted or we could not get or [they] have been too expensive. So it is not for the want of trying and not like we are not seeing the same things that others are seeing. It is trying to get in players that I think can help us and make a difference but we will continue trying to look. With a week or so to go [in the transfer window] we will keep looking. I think that we will try hard to make them [signings] but I cannot say one way or the other, we will see. We will work hard to add to what we have got but I can’t give any guarantees that will happen.”
Whilst the manager is hard at work alongside Rob Newman, West Ham’s Head of Recruitment, his players will be handed some time off during the break to recharge their batteries, however, West Ham will not be heading abroad like some of their Premier League rivals.
David Moyes added: “Our plan is to be here [at Rush Green]. I’ll give the players time off. If ever there was a group of players who deserve it, it’s this group with the European games we’ve had, decent run in the Carabao Cup. We’re looking forward to the second half of the season and we see there being so many cup finals for us in this second half. I see this as our chance to give the players a few days, give them the chance to get ready and come back with that mentality and say, ‘Look, can we go again? Can we take it to the next level? Can we start to challenge?’. Whether it be in Europe, whether it be in the league, in the FA Cup. Can we challenge? The best thing to do is to give them time with their families and hopefully come back with a fresh face and ready to go.”
However, there is one man who will not be taking it easy, Michail Antonio faces three matches in seven days for Jamaica as the Reggae Boyz attempt to qualify for their first World Cup in 24 years. The striker’s international commitments and propensity to pick up injuries could make the next week even more vital for West Ham in the transfer market.
