Former Hammer Joe Cole says West Ham made a strange transfer decision last month which could see them squander a unique chance.
Many West Ham fans were furious with the club’s lack of activity in the January transfer window.
David Moyes had publicly stated he wanted to sign a striker and a defender.
Hopes were high after the arrival of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky as West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder and Rob Newman as the club’s head of recruitment.
But deadline day came and went with no new arrivals. That sparked a backlash from fans and pundits who accused West Ham of a lack of ambition.
With West Ham having so much to play for in the second half of the season – and gaping holes in key areas – many felt it was a big opportunity missed to really push on and reinvigorate the squad for the run-in.
Moyes, though, always insisted he will only sign players he feels are better than what he has.
Joe Cole says West Ham made strange transfer decision which could see them squander unique chance
Former West Ham star Joe Cole, who famously came through the club’s academy, was asked whether he thought Moyes will regret not adding to his squad.
And Cole told BT Sport he found West Ham’s decision not to conduct any transfers ‘strange’ adding that it could see them squander a unique chance as they fight for Champions League qualification and silverware in the Europa League and FA Cup.
“If you’re in this position like West Ham are now, fighting on three front – the FA Cup, Europa League, Premier League – I think by the beginning of December there could have been plans in place to identify, negotiate and target players that could help this group of players do something remarkable this year,” Cole said on BT Sport during coverage of last night’s win over Watford, which lifted the Hammers back up to fourth place in the table.
“I find it strange. I know the owners and the manager have come out and said that they don’t want to be over-spending and spending unnecessarily.
“But it’s such a unique position… the fans are frustrated with it.”
West Ham and Moyes now face a big summer in the transfer market.
The Hammers, who have the second oldest squad in the top flight, face having to bring in between 10-12 players with the club in the next window.
The Irons desperately need to sign at least one striker, a centre-back and a left-back before addressing the fact that a host of players are out of contract or clearly not in the manager’s plans.
Bringing in that many players at the level Moyes wants won’t be cheap or easy.