West Ham United’s owners David Sullivan and David Gold are dicing with death over the club’s future.
Major unrest as West Ham fans turn on owners over lack of investment
The duo are refusing to invest in the team, telling manager David Moyes he must sell to buy (Claret & Hugh).
While Sullivan and Gold plead poverty and blame the global health crisis, West Ham’s Premier League rivals are busy and active in the transfer market.
The Premier League season kicks off in just over two weeks.
Moyes makes a case for the defence and owners must back him
And it is expected to be one of the most fiercely competitive campaigns for some time with the likes of Leeds, West Brom and Fulham back in the big time.
David Moyes has made it abundantly clear that strengthening West Ham’s defence is his main priority (Evening Standard).
So far though he has not received any backing from Sullivan and Gold to do that.
And the owners are literally risking the club’s Premier League status as a result.
It is clear why Moyes wants to strengthen West Ham’s defence.
West Ham dicing with death if they don’t bolster backline
The Hammers conceded more than 60 goals for the third time in the last four seasons last term.
They had the fifth worst defence in the top flight. Usually conceding north of 60 goals will see a team relegated.
West Ham will undoubtedly be in the relegation mix again unless something is done to address the glaring weaknesses at left-back and centre back.
Even right-back is a concern with Ben Johnson looking good but untested over the course of an entire season.
Rico Henry of Brentford is said to be a target at left-back (Claret & Hugh).
No money, more problems
But West Brom are making moves to sign the Birmingham-born defender (Sky Sports).
Shane Duffy looks to have chosen Celtic over West Ham despite holding talks with Karren Brady and having played under Moyes at Everton.
John Stones and Phil Jones have both been linked but with no money to spend those particular players look well out of reach.
In football – like all business – sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate.
If staying in the Premier League is worth hundreds of millions of pounds, then surely the owners backing Moyes to sign some defensive reinforcements to keep them there is worth the outlay?
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