David Moyes has sent a clear message to technical director Tim Steidten about West Ham’s transfer priorities with actions.
The January transfer window is open and any doubts West Ham need to make signings were put to bed in the drab 0-0 draw with Brighton.
West Ham were solid defensively but offered little else as a team missing four key players were second best to a weakened Brighton.
A point was a good result in the end for the Hammers.
But having done so well to get themselves in the top six, West Ham now risk throwing it all away due to a lack of quality squad depth.
Moyes sent clear message to Steidten about transfer priorities
David Moyes has been around a long time and knows when and how to lean on the fact his stock is high.
With the Irons in the top six and the last 16 of the Europa League alongside talk of a new deal being on the way, that’s certainly the case right now.
And Moyes has sent clear message to Tim Steidten about West Ham’s transfer priorities with actions.
Moyes and the Hammers’ technical director are regularly seen chatting prior to matches.
The German is in charge of recruitment and oversaw one of the best summer windows in the top flight.
West Ham have been linked with a plethora of players in all manner of positions.
Right-back, forward and left-sided attacker needed
But Moyes made it clear the three positions he feels need strengthening in the January window in the draw with Brighton.
With Thilo Kehrer on his way to Monaco and Vladimir Coufal absent through illness, Ben Johnson was played at right-back.
If a player deemed nowhere near good enough for the first team – who has also refused a new contract – is West Ham’s alternative to Coufal then the message is clear to Steidten that is a position that needs addressing.
The Hammers have been linked with Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters – who can also play just as well at left-back.
Hammers squad depth not up to much
Up front, young Divin Mubama was brought on ahead of experienced £100k per week Danny Ings. Mubama may turn out to be an excellent player for West Ham. But there has been little to suggest he is ready or capable of filling the void for a team that could and should be challenging for the top five or six in this wide open season.
That move from Moyes told Steidten West Ham need a new forward. Especially as Michail Antonio turns 34 in March.
West Ham have been linked with a number of forwards, most heavily Serhou Guirassy of Stuttgart.
And finally the left-sided position – an area Moyes has already publicly stated West Ham are ‘a bit short in’.
When he took off Said Benrahma, instead of bringing on Maxwel Cornet, he moved Pablo Fornals over to the left.
West Ham were even less of a threat thereafter. And that told Steidten it is another area which needs investment.
The problem is players must be shipped out first for that to happen. And many of those mentioned should be the ones to depart if West Ham can find takers.
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