A former West Ham coach has made an astonishingly bold £70m summer striker signing claim and has moved to reassure angry fans.
West Ham fans have been struggling to come to terms with the club’s lack of activity in the January transfer window.
Hammers boss David Moyes made it clear he was looking to bring a new striker to West Ham after two years of trying without success.
And the Scot wanted a defender to bolster his side with so much to play for in the second half of the season too.
Deadline day came and went without any new arrivals at West Ham, though. And there has been a backlash from a large section of the support who feel a lack of ambition could cost the club a golden chance of real success this season.
West Ham were linked with a plethora of players over the course of the month and a number of much-publicised bids.
But the Hammers were mocked by the likes of Simon Jordan and former Hammers striker Dean Ashton for ‘phantom bids and faux ambition’.
Yesterday Moyes did an interview with the club’s official website in which he insisted he had the backing of the board to make signings but could not get the players he wanted.
Attention will now move to the summer when West Ham will need more than just a striker and centre-back with a host of players out of contract or expected to leave.
Ex West Ham coach Terry Westley makes bold £70m summer striker signing claim and reassures fans
Now in his column on Claret and Hugh, ex West Ham academy boss and coach Terry Westley has made a bold £70m summer striker signing claim.
And he has moved to reassure fans that the club will be bringing in quality players in the next window off the back of new investment from Czech billionaire and co-owner Daniel Kretinsky.
“Of course Moysie could have gone out and bought some average players but he sees West Ham as a very serious operation and he really will only get the best possible players into the club,” Westley said on Claret and Hugh.
“He will need quite a number of new players this summer but don’t expect him to replace similar for similar – much better will be on the way – along with a £70 million plus striker to come in.
“There’s new investment in the club and I expect very big things to start next summer. I also believe he got things 100 per cent right this window by refusing to bow to the demands on him from some expectant fans.
“Nobody should be panicking because no players arrived. Under David Moyes this club is on its way to a big future.”
Reassuring words. And Westley will undoubtedly still have strong connections at West Ham.
But fans have heard all this too many times in the past and will understandably be sceptical.
The proof of the pudding – as they say – will be in the eating. And in terms of strikers we’re all starving.