How have West Ham passed up three golden transfer opportunities with £500m Premier League survival at stake?
That is the question we should be asking of David Moyes and the board with just over 48 hours to go until the January transfer window slams shut.
Every single one of West Ham’s seven relegation rivals bar Everton have been making impressive moves in the winter window.
The Hammers did sign Danny Ings, who may yet turn out to be an inspired bit of business. But it was hardly a surprise when the 30-year-old, who has endured a career filled with injury issues, was sidelined less than 24 hours after being unveiled by West Ham.
Moyes may have spent £170m on eight signings in the summer but he got it so wrong as evidenced by our woeful season.
The Scot neglected to sign a much-needed new right-back, should have signed two strikers in the summer – as proved by the fact he has been forced to go for Ings – and a proper, modern left-back was needed too.
A new all-action central midfielder is a must with Tomas Soucek’s form falling off a cliff and Moyes clearly not a huge fan of Flynn Downes.
It is clear another attacking player is needed as is a centre-back with so much riding on the rest of the season.
We are told relegation could cost the Hammers as much as half a billion pounds all told.
So why are the club not throwing everything at strengthening the squad – like so many of our rivals are doing?
Even if the issue is a lack of funds available, there are a number of deals that have been done this weekend alone which West Ham and Moyes should have been all over like a rash.
It really does beg a big question.
How have West Ham passed up three golden transfer opportunities with their £500m Premier League survival at stake?
Deals have been done this weekend for three quality, young, athletic players who would have been perfect for West Ham.
Two of them by our direct relegation rivals. And the total outlay across the three deals is barely over £10m.
Leeds United have agreed terms to sign US midfielder Weston McKennie from Juventus. This is an all-action central midfielder who has been repeatedly named as the man West Ham allegedly wanted to eventually replace Declan Rice.
The deal – a £1.2m loan with an option to buy. An absolute no-brainer.
Another relegation rival Leicester – who really don’t have any money to spend – have even made a quality signing.
The Foxes have brought in exciting Brazilian winger Tete from Lyon as they look to stay up. Once again a loan deal with a small fee and a player Moyes and West Ham know all about having been linked with him last season before he joined Lyon and faced the Hammers in the Europa League.
Another player heavily linked with West Ham has moved to a new club this weekend for peanuts. Classy midfield ace Azzedine Ounahi has been linked with the Hammers for two months now.
Prices being quoted ranged between £15-25m. But Nayef Aguerd’s Morocco teammate has this weekend joined Marseille for just £8m.
Surely West Ham and Moyes are not deluded enough to think this squad is good enough to keep us up after what we have seen all season long?
One win over the worst team in the league should not fool anyone. McKennie, Tete and Ounahi have just moved clubs for little over £10m. Even if West Ham had signed one of them it would have given us a huge boost.
Why aren’t we involved in these deals?
Think and say what you want about David Sullivan. But one thing is for sure he would be wanting to get a couple of players in to add to the squad this month given what is at stake.
But he has handed Moyes final say on all transfers and the Scot is far too old fashioned, preferring to work with a smaller squad.
Let’s hope he knows what he is doing. But on the evidence of his recent recruitment dealings, he really doesn’t.