Ahead of West Ham’s clash with Newcastle United, the world’s richest club, David Moyes has insisted the Hammers are in a strong financial position after the investment of billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.
David Moyes said: “I think we don’t want to be out there flashing our nice handbag, we’re going to walk about with a fake one and let people think that way. But the truth is of course we think we’re in a position where we’re in a good place and try and do the right things when the time comes and make the right choices.”
Moyes spoke about the arrival of Krentinsky at West Ham and what this means for the club.
David Moyes added: “What it does mean is we’re not a club that needs money. People can talk whatever they like but we’re not a club that needs money. So from that point of view we are in a much better position than we have ever been in in years gone by and I see there being another growth period here, I really do I think there is a chance to go again. I don’t think we can grow as fast as we have just grown but even if it gets down to 5 percent better and do that little bit. We’re not a football club that needs money anymore.”
With Moyes insisting that the Hammers are on a sound financial footing, any club who wishes to prise away one of West Ham’s star assets will have a tough fight on their hands. Declan Rice has long been touted for a move away from the London Stadium but with Moyes intent on taking the club to a new level and finances not an issue, the Hammers will be in a strong position when the summer transfer window opens. Instead of selling their star players, Moyes is keen to add to his squad and continue the fine work he has done for the past two years.
David Moyes said: “We want to build on it. We want to make it better. We’ve grown really quickly, really fast in two years. The next bit is to get another good layer of foundations in so we can try to build for, not just the next six months, the next year, but we can try to get another layer of foundations in which gives us a chance to be successful for the next two or three years going forward. That’s where I’m seeing it. The next transfer window would be important for me to get that next layer of foundations down for it.”
With Newcastle’s power in the transfer market already beginning to be seen after their January window Moyes was asked if they are now a rival to West Ham’s recruitment strategy.
David Moyes said: “I don’t think it will be just us and Newcastle battling in the transfer market, far from it. But I do think London is a big attraction for players. Manchester is huge too, but London is really important. A club like west ham, if we can have a successful team then we can attract a lot of good players who would like to come and live in this area. We have got a lot of players who have come from overseas and many of them look as if they will settle here for a long time to come.
However, the Scot added a caveat to London being a key part in players decisions
David Moyes said: “I can see London being a very attractive place, but I come from Glasgow, and I think Glasgow is the best place in the world to live in. It’s hard to beat. A lot of people who live in the north east would say the exact same thing about Newcastle.”
