Former West Ham United boss Harry Redknapp and current incumbent David Moyes have been made to look silly by a story about Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale.
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It comes after former player turned pundit Joleon Lescott made a shocking claim about a potential deal that was mooted between ex West Ham and Tottenham manager Redknapp and current Hammers boss Moyes.
The story relates to the period when Redknapp was managing Tottenham and Moyes was at Everton.
‘Redknapp wanted to swap Bale for Baines, Moyes didn’t’ – claims Lescott
Lescott claims Redknapp wanted to swap Bale – who would go on to be sold to Real Madrid for a then record £87miillion and enjoy a trophy-laden spell in Spain’s capital – for Everton left-back Leighton Baines.
If that was embarrassing for the old West Ham boss, then it proved even more of a blunder for Moyes.
Because according to Lescott the reason the deal involving the former and current West Ham managers did not happen was because Moyes had big reservations about Bale (Sky Sports).
“I remember that time, it was around when he (Bale) was getting stick for his first 20 appearances or something like that ending in a loss,” Lescott told Sky Sports.
‘What was going on there?’
“Coming in after the game Bainesy, who I was really close with, we were talking and Harry Redknapp wanted to swap them. He pulled Baines to one side, had a conversation with him, so I asked ‘What was going on there?’
“He said they were interested in doing a swap for Bale.
“One of the main reasons that didn’t happen was because Bale’s record was so bad and David Moyes didn’t want to swap.”
Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but Redknapp comes off worse
And if Redknapp could not see Bale’s potential despite working with him everyday at Spurs, then it is perhaps harsh to criticise Moyes for being wary.
At the time Baines was also one of the best left-backs in the country too.
As West Ham fans will testify, Moyes likes to do thorough due diligence on any signings.
And Redknapp loved to wheel and deal in the transfer market in a bid to improve his hand.
Time has moved on, though. And West Ham fans will be hoping Moyes’s instincts prove right on new signing Said Benrahma – who could be in line for a debut against Liverpool this weekend.
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