West Ham’s transfer activity is in good hands according to co-owner David Gold, who has full trust in manager David Moyes and Head of Recruitment Rob Newman.
David Gold said: “We have now added further experience and strength to our recruitment department with the appointment of Rob Newman as Head of Recruitment. Rob has a terrific track record and expertise after 12 years at Manchester City, and he will work closely with the manager to ensure we continue to identify and recruit the best players to fit our club model and strategy, both short and long-term. I think we have had an absolutely tremendous record with our player recruitment since David came back, and I’m sure Rob will only help to enhance that further. The manager deserves great credit for building the squad we have now.”
Gold, whilst widely praising the transfer activity of Moyes, singled one signing in particular as the calibre of player the Hammers are hoping to continue to attract.
David Gold added: “All of the signings since January 2020 have been successful, including Kurt Zouma, who really does typify the quality of player we are looking to sign now. A Champions League winner who has great experience and pedigree at the top level, yet still many great years – hopefully his best years – in front of him. The manager was relentless in pursuing him in the summer, and I think we can all see what he has brought to the squad and the club.”
With the Hammers sitting in fifth spot, just one point off the top-four and in the last-16 of the Europa League, there is optimism around the club that a Champions League challenge could be on the cards. With injuries to key defenders Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell, as well as the heavy reliance on Michail Antonio for goals, both attacking and defensive reinforcements are on the cards during the January transfer window.
David Gold said: “With COVID and the world we are living in now, you could argue that when it comes to transfers everything has changed but actually nothing really has changed. We are still doing everything we can to get the players that the manager wants and there is a really good balance between the board and manager – it’s a positive, comfortable relationship right now. We all have the same desire to bring in the right players, and we’ve already seen the benefits of that and certainly you could argue that last season was partly due to this approach to transfers.”
Gold is delighted with how things are going both on and off the pitch and added that he is hopeful Moyes can take the team into the Champions League for the first time in their history.
David Gold added: “My aim is to be in the top six again, my hope is to be in the top four, and my dream is to win the title. Most of all, though, it is simply to continue to progress in the right direction as a football club. There’s still plenty to go for this season and I believe we’ve given ourselves a chance to succeed. I don’t think anybody can under-estimate the size of the achievement already when it comes to our Europa League campaign. To have won our group with a game to spare before the end of November, reaching the last 16, while sitting fourth in the Premier League having beaten the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham, and Everton – along with Manchester United and Manchester City to get to the Carabao Cup quarter-final – is a magnificent feat.”
