Leeds United have made a Red Bull signing ahead of the West Ham clash as David Moyes continues to insist he won’t dabble in transfer market.
West Ham head to Elland Road to face Leeds in their latest “must win” game on Wednesday night.
With West Ham only being kept out of the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference, many would assume Moyes will jump at the chance to improve his squad now the January transfer window is open.
All of the clubs in and around West Ham at the bottom of the table have signalled their intent to be active this month, including Leeds.
When Moyes first set out at West Ham he declared he wanted to base the club’s recruitment on the Red Bull model – signing young, hungry players before they alert the attentions of the European elite.
Some have followed that formula such as Flynn Downes and Jarrod Bowen. But many have not.
Despite his job being on the line Moyes has insisted he will not be spending in January after a £170m outlay on eight players in the summer (talkSPORT). The Scot has repeated that he is not planning to make signings in several interviews since.
But it is clear for all to see West Ham desperately need players in key positions such as full-back and up front.
Moyes has somehow conspired to assemble the oldest squad in the Premier League while Jesse Marsch is putting together a young, vibrant side very much in the Red Bull image at Leeds.
Leeds seal Red Bull transfer deal ahead of West Ham clash as David Moyes continues to insist he won’t dabble in transfer market
So there is no lack of irony around what Leeds – battling for Prem survival alongside their next opponents – have just done.
Because Leeds have sealed a Red Bull transfer deal ahead of the West Ham clash as Moyes continues to insist he won’t dabble in transfer market.
Marsch clearly feels he needs to strengthen and has signed Austria defender Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg on a four-and-a-half-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old played under Whites coach Marsch at Salzburg where he made 125 appearances.
Wober, who can operate at both centre-back and left-back, becomes the Elland Road club’s first signing of the January transfer window.
It is not clear whether he was registered in time – or would be considered – to face West Ham.
But it appears highly unlikely with BBC Sport claiming he could make his debut in Leeds United’s FA Cup clash with Cardiff at the weekend.
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