David Moyes has confirmed £20m man Jarrod Bowen starts up front in West Ham United’s season opener and says new assistants are imminent.
You could be forgiven for forgetting that it’s not just Declan Rice who West Ham have lost this summer.
Gianluca Scamacca has been sold too of course leaving big holes in midfield and up front – certainly for the opening game against Bournemouth at least.
But beyond that West Ham also say assistants Mark Warburton AND Paul Nevin leave the club.
Warburton revealed he had to leave in order to save his personal friendship with David Moyes after it came close to breaking point in his solitary season at West Ham.
The departures of Warburton and Nevin followed the exits of Stuart Pearce and Alan Irvine in consecutive summers too.
New signing Edson Alvarez won’t – according to Moyes – be in the squad for the Cherries clash.
That’s despite declaring himself fit and ready to help the team. So the midfield will look much the same as it has in pre-season.
Up front there will be a major change, though. And there could soon be in the West Ham dugout too.
Because Moyes has confirmed £20m man Jarrod Bowen starts up front in the West Ham season opener and says new assistants are imminent.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Moyes confirmed he will be using Bowen as a striker this season, starting at Bournemouth.
And he also states he has held talks ahead of appointing new assistants to his Hammers coaching staff.
“That’s partly my plan,” Moyes said about using Bowen up front.
“If we can’t sign a centre-forward then I have Jarrod Bowen in mind. I think he’s beginning to look more like a centre-forward. The game against Bournemouth will be the starting point.
“I’ve had meetings with a couple of people (to replace Warburton and Nevin) and I’m probably closing in on doing something very shortly.”
Last month I reported on Hammers News that Steve Round looks a dead cert for a reunion with Moyes at West Ham following his departure from Arsenal.
Round worked as Moyes’ assistant at both Everton and Manchester United.
So it will be interesting to see if he is one of the candidates Moyes is referring to.