West Ham United boss David Moyes has identified the areas he wants to strengthen as he continues rebuilding the club.
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West Ham have been much-improved under Moyes since football returned after the first lockdown.
The Hammers look more organised and are much more competitive this season.
The east Londoners are ensconced in midtable. And West Ham are within striking distance of the European spots after handling one of the toughest starts ever handed to a Premier League team in impressive style.
Moyes was thwarted in summer window search
Moyes wanted to sign a top quality defender in the summer window.
But none of his moves came off and he elected to bring in Craig Dawson on loan as cover.
West Ham also failed to sign a striker despite having only Sebastien Haller and Michail Antonio as recognised forwards.
Injuries to Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna have already exposed the lack of depth in the West Ham squad.
Antonio has been sorely missed in the last two games after picking up an all-too predictable hamstring injury. And Ogbonna hobbled off in the win over Fulham as Moyes awaits to discover the extent of a groin injury to the Italian.
Insiders close to owners claim Moyes has identified the signings he wants next
It comes as West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh – who have direct links to the club’s owners David Sullivan and David Gold – reveal the three key positions Moyes wants to strengthen next.
C&H claim the Scot wants to sign a new striker, another central midfielder and a centre-back.
Highly-rated young Danish defender Frederik Alves Ibsen is expected to join in January.
The 20-year-old will team up with the development squad first, though.
With Fabian Balbuena out of contract at the end of the season, Winston Reid’s future in MLS and Ogbonna not getting any younger, Moyes will go back into the market for a top centre-half next summer.
And he wants two more players as well.
‘He wants to strengthen three positions’ – insiders
“David Moyes could go back into the transfer window for a top central defender next summer despite his expected move for £1.2 million Silkeborg Frederik Alves Ibsen,” C&H claim.
“He (Moyes) still feels that four quality central defenders are required at the club and along with a striker and back-up defensive midfielder.”
There are plenty of options out there for Moyes in the medium-term.
Is this David Moyes’s shortlist of eight January transfer targets – read the full story.
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