It’s coming to something that David Moyes is being more proactive over signing strikers at Everton than he ever was at West Ham but his latest move has hit a stumbling block.
It took David Moyes 18 months to replace Sebastien Haller when West Ham sold him to Ajax.
The Everton boss admitted he turned down the likes of Julian Alvarez while it’s been reported he did not fancy Viktor Gyokeres either as he persisted with Michail Antonio up front for the Hammers.
Moyes regularly bemoaned a dearth of top striker talent the world over.
The Scot had a point but there are plenty out there more than good enough for West Ham – and Everton.
Since going back to the Toffees, Moyes seems to have learned his lesson when it comes to dithering over striker deals.
Moyes changes his stripes over strikers at Everton
Moyes pushed hard to bring Hammers target Liam Delap to Everton – but he chose Chelsea.
During his first spell at Everton and time at Man United and West Ham, Moyes earned the nickname ‘dithering Dave’.
That was a nod to the fact he often wanted to see a player live multiple times and get information on their character and personality before signing them.
“It’s not my money, it’s the club’s money and I want to spend it wisely,” Moyes once said when discussing his approach to West Ham’s transfers.
A striker is top of the agenda for Moyes’ former and current club this summer transfer window.
Danny Ings has been released by West Ham and loanee Evan Ferguson sent back to Brighton.
Niclas Fullkrug is being tipped to leave the Irons as Graham Potter has put on record he only sees the ageing German as a back-up striker.
That will not work for Fullkrug in a World Cup year with his Germany spot meaning far too much to him.
Antonio is expected to depart the London Stadium too after talks over a new deal collapsed.
Everton move for striker stalls – Hammers must find a way
Everton have actually been linked with Antonio this week. Presumably as a back-up forward for a new first choice striker.
That’s because Dominic Calvert-Lewin is leaving the Toffees at the expiration of his contract.
Potter wants to drastically lower the age of his squad.
West Ham have been linked with a number of young strikers including Emanuel Emegha, Evan Guessand and Lucas Stassin.
Another who fits that profile – who has been tipped by a move to West Ham in the recent past – is Thierno Barry.
The Athletic’s leading European football expert Alex Barker said Potter should be banging the door down for the Villarreal striker because he is the perfect fit for his system.
Barry is a 6ft 4in 22-year-old who has really caught the eye in Spain this season – helping the Yellow Submarine back into the Champions League.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMImLddx9vwThere have been claims the Spanish side would be tempted by offers over £20m for the French forward.
Barry scored 11 goals and laid on four assists in 25 La Liga starts last season. He also scored another eight goals in other competitions.
But it is Everton who had stolen a march on signing him – until now.
Because Everton’s move for exciting striker Barry has stalled and West Ham’s owners must find a way to hijack the deal.
Barry’s Toffees move gets sticky – West Ham owners need to act
Le Parisien journalist Marc Mechenoua says Barry is Moyes’ priority striker target and that Everton have submitted a £25m bid.
But he claims there has been no agreement between the Toffees and Villarreal and the move is now in the balance.
What are West Ham waiting for, many might ask.
Money for a start.
It’s been widely publicised West Ham are claiming they must sell before they can buy this summer.
However, many fans are calling on the club’s owners David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky to follow the lead of a host of Premier League rivals and do something to invest more of their own money into the club through clever accountancy.
West Ham cannot afford to miss out on a talent like Barry at that kind of price.
If Sullivan and Kretinsky need convincing they need only revisit what The Athletic’s European football guru Barker said about Barry a few months ago.
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