David Moyes has made a big admission about players leaving West Ham today but has ruled out any last minute farce.
When it comes to transfer deadline day most fans are more interested in who might come in and at West Ham it’s no different.
But while the Hammers are chasing one or two more signings before tonight’s 11pm summer transfer window deadline, there has been speculation that several could leave too.
The likes of striker Hugo Ekitike and versatile left-sided players Filip Kostic and Ian Maatsen are being linked.
So it’s clear where West Ham’s priorities are.
West Ham’s delicate squad balancing act on deadline day
Bringing in more than one non homegrown player would raise an issue for Hammers boss David Moyes.
Because, with one non homegrown slot left in West Ham’s squad, bringing in two would mean one current non homegrown player would have to leave.
With Jesse Lingard likely to sign a short-term deal he will count as a homegrown player, meaning one of the current homegrown players could – theoretically – also be sold.
The likes of Pablo Fornals, Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson, Thilo Kehrer, Maxwel Cornet, Michail Antonio, Danny Ings, Said Benrahma and Nayef Aguerd have all been linked with moves away. Three of those players are regular starters for West Ham.
David Moyes makes big admission about players leaving West Ham today but rules out any last minute farce
Moyes has often made it clear he prefers to operate with smaller squads. And he reiterated that when discussing transfers in his latest pressing conference yesterday.
And, having brought in four quality signings following the departures of Declan Rice, Manuel Lanzini, Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Vlasic, the Scot has conceded some may depart.
With West Ham playing away at Luton at 8pm – a game which will finish with around an hour left of the window – it makes an already difficult day potentially chaotic and disruptive.
Now Moyes has made a big admission about players leaving West Ham today but has ruled out any last minute farce.
The Hammers boss has made it clear that there will be no dramatic late transfer scenes in and around the West Ham dressing room while the Sky cameras peer on at Kenilworth Road.
‘We could find we have players who maybe could be outgoings’
Because whoever is in his squad for Luton won’t be leaving before the 11pm deadline. Although that will not rule out moves to Saudi before their window closes on September 7th.
And Moyes will be leaving the efforts to make signings to technical director Tim Steidten and co – saying he ‘trusts them’.
“I don’t think I will be taking a sub off and saying, “Hey get yourself stripped and showered, you’re on your way somewhere else!” Moyes told the press, as reported by the likes of The Mail.
“We could find we have players who maybe could be outgoings and if that is the case, it does make it a difficult day.
“What can we do about it? I trust the people behind the scenes to do what they have to do.
“We will be right in it (the transfer market) until the last minute. But, being on deadline day, it makes it really difficult for myself and everybody else to be involved. We have a game to prepare for. Sky rely a lot on deadline day. You lot live by it. It is unfair we are playing on deadline day.”