Eddie Howe’s Newcastle stance suggests West Ham boss David Moyes is right to snub a move for Arnaut Danjuma.
Moyes is in the middle of a sizeable rebuild at West Ham this summer following a raft of departures.
West Ham have made a good start to the summer transfer window with around £40m spent on new defender Nayef Aguerd and making Alphonse Areola’s move permanent.
There are many similarities between what is happening at Newcastle with Howe at the helm and the transformation at West Ham under Moyes.
Key to West Ham’s rise under the experienced Scot has been his careful, considered recruitment.
Howe’s shrewd transfer dealings have helped completely turn Newcastle around too.
West Ham – like Newcastle – were a side battling relegation when Moyes first returned.
And if Howe’s Newcastle pick up next season where they left off last, then there is no reason they will not go on to emulate West Ham’s achievements of qualifying for Europe in consecutive campaigns.
Moyes was full of praise for Howe last season, stating the Newcastle boss is very highly regarded in management circles.
West Ham and Newcastle seem to be very much in competition for players in the summer transfer market with Howe and Moyes linked with the same names.
A recent report described Newcastle’s interest in reported West Ham targets as “an obsession”.
So when it comes to West Ham’s on-off move for Villarreal star Danjuma it is well worth noting the inaction at St James’s Park.
Danjuma has been heavily linked with West Ham over the last week. At one stage reports claimed his move to the London Stadium was imminent.
But a West Ham insider told Claret and Hugh that was not the case because Moyes was ‘not convinced’ by the player.
“West Ham are not currently progressing in talks to sign Arnaut Danjuma, with boss David Moyes not convinced by the player,” an insider told Claret and Hugh last week.
And The Daily Mail also stated that Moyes pulled the plug on a move for Danjuma after deciding he isn’t the best fit for the Hammers.
The West Ham board have allegedly been pushing hard to convince Moyes to sign Danjuma (The Express).
The Dutch international’s agent also hit back at a talkSPORT reporter who had suggested there were question marks over his client’s attitude.
But Howe’s Newcastle stance suggests West Ham boss Moyes is right to snub Danjuma.
A deal is clearly there to be done with Villarreal, who are said to want the reported £38.5m on Danjuma’s head to use in their own move for Sadiq Umar.
Moyes has come in for criticism from some West Ham fans for snubbing Danjuma.
But Howe’s inaction speaks volumes.
If Danjuma was a truly top player then, at £38m, Howe would be all over this deal to try and bring him to Newcastle having signed and worked with the forward at Bournemouth. Simple as.
Money is essentially no object for Howe at Newcastle.
So it says a lot that the Magpies manager has not pounced for Danjuma, especially with news of West Ham pulling the plug on a deal.
Newcastle have been in for almost every player the Hammers have been linked with.
So it seems to be a rather damning indictment that there has been no mention of them in the mix over the last week.
Moyes is known to do his due diligence on all potential signings.
So you can also bet your bottom dollar the Scot will have bent Howe’s ear at some stage on Danjuma.
Let’s also not sweep under the carpet the forward’s persistent injury problems either.
He spent long spells in the treatment room at Bournemouth.
And he only made 18 La Liga appearances last season and only 23 in all competitions during an injury-hit campaign.
Yes fans are understandably sometimes frustrated by Moyes procrastinating over targets.
But Howe’s stance suggests the West Ham boss has called it right to snub Danjuma.
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