David Moyes
David Moyes has made no secret of his desire to bring in further attacking options this transfer window ahead of the new campaign. So far the Hammers transfer activity has centered on adding three talented teenagers who, despite their promise, are unlikely to force their way into the starting XI come August 15th. The start of West Ham’s 2021/22 campaign is just 20 days away and will be the beginning of a jam-packed nine months that Hammers fans hope will culminate in a Europa League final in Sevilla on May 18, 2022. With a hectic schedule ahead it is no surprise Moyes wishes to add to his attacking options, with Michail Antonio currently his only out and out striker with Premier League experience at the club. Jarrod Bowen has filled in from time to time upfront but is far more effective when coming from a wide position.
David Moyes said: “We had money to spend, we sold Seb [Haller] earlier in the window so we had that, but we are trying to do things differently at West Ham and we’re not going to follow the same path we have been following before. I chose to keep my money and hopefully we can start another rebuild come the summer time. The owners have been great and the Seb Haller money was there if I chose to spend it and we tried, but overall the players we wanted to add to the players we brought in and the type of players we brought in weren’t available.”
The summer is now well underway, yet the big-name signings the fans crave as part of Moyes’ rebuild are yet to arrive. However, there have been many names linked with the club, particularly for the priority position of striker. Abraham has been linked with a move to West Ham for a number of months and is a player that Moyes has openly spoken about. The manager is understood to be a fan of the England international, however, in May the Scot admitted that if Chelsea were looking for a fee north of £45 million, as reported, West Ham would not be interested in a deal.
David Moyes said: “It would rule us out completely. We will be ruled out. So if that’s the figure and that’s what’s being said, we are ruled out. We don’t have that money, we don’t have that to buy a striker at that price, no.”
If the Blues were prepared to lower their asking price then a deal could potentially be struck but the Hammers will face stiff competition for the 23-year-old with Arsenal reported to be keen on a move. Perhaps the easiest deal for West ham to get over the line would be that of Sima. The 20-year-old is currently plying his trade with Slavia Prague, a team West Ham have an excellent relationship with following the deals to sign Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal from the Czech side. Sima’s manager at Slavia has recently admitted that the forward could be set to depart the Czech club this summer and the club have already brought in a forward to replace him should that happen. Jindrich Trpisovsky even mentioned West Ham as a potential destination for his player.
Jindrich Tripovski said: “With the arrival of Ivan Schranz we have acquired an attacking player who can play four positions in our system, Abdallah Sima and [fellow Slavia player] Peter Olayinka could leave, so you have to prepare for that eventuality. We spoke to West Ham and they told us they put Sima very high on the list of their possible reinforcements.”
