West Ham United should now be setting our sights on the Champions League in the next stage of our development as a club.
David Moyes returned to the London Stadium to take over as West Ham manager in December 2019, and the Scot has worked absolute wonders since then.
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The 60-year-old has guided the Hammers to our third successive European campaign and won us our first major trophy since 1980 after lifting the Europa Conference League back in June.
West Ham have begun the 2023/24 campaign in fine fashion as well. Things are really looking up now for the club, but what next for Moyes and his team?
The only logical answer is the promised land of the Champions League. But what does Moyes need to do in order to turn that dream into reality?
The transfer business David Moyes needs to do to guide West Ham Champions League dreamland
There are certain players who Moyes needs to upgrade upon, if we are to progress to the next level.
Here are five names I think the Scot should be looking to move on…
Aaron Cresswell
The 33-year-old is well past his best now and Moyes should be looking to sell him either in January or release him in the summer.
Michail Antonio
Another 33-year-old, Antonio’s days as playing as West Ham’s number one striker are surely finished. Moyes needs to upgrade upon the Jamaica international as a matter of urgency.
Said Benrahma
The 28-year-old is one of our most sellable assets. It’s clear to see that he isn’t a first-team regular anymore and Moyes should easily be able to sign an upgrade on the Algerian.
Thilo Kehrer
The German has real talent but he’s not consistent enough for the Premier League. I firmly believe that Moeys should cash in on Kehrer as soon as possible.
Flynn Downes
The 24-year-old midfielder is currently out on loan with Southampton and it has been obvious to see that he’s far more suited to the Championship than he is the Premier League.
If Moyes is able to ship those players out, he should be looking to bring in the following five names…
Serhou Guirassy
The 27-year-old hitman is on fire in Germany with Stuttgart this season, with 14 goals in just eight games to his name (Transfermarkt).
Hugo Ekitike
The 21-year-old Frenchman is an elite talent. West Ham actually came close to signing him in the summer transfer window just gone, and Moyes needs to try again. He’s absolutely rapid and is an elite finisher.
Piero Hincapie
The 21-year-old is a top-class central defender, and he can operate as a left-back as well, so signing him would kill two birds with one stone for the Hammers.
Youssouf Fofana
The 24-year-old Monaco midfielder is an absolute powerhouse and would be the ideal candidate to provide strong competition for Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in the middle of the park.
Jeremie Frimpong
The 22-year-old right-back possesses blistering pace and is a real threat going forward, as well as being a very solid defender. He’d be a huge upgrade on Vladimir Coufal.
If Moyes manages to move on those five players mentioned above and signs the five players listed below them, I genuinely believe West Ham will have a squad capable of challenging for the Champions League.
It will obviously be a lost easier said than done due to the sheer volume of top quality sides competing in the Premier League now.
The thing is, I feel strongly that the Hammers are a team on the up. With the addition of Tim Steidten and signings like Mohammed Kudus, it seems to me that the owners are finally showing some real ambition.
And the Champions League should be well within our grasp if Moyes gets his recruitment spot on over the next two transfer windows.
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