Man United have David Moyes to thank as talks held to sign top star West Ham had on silver platter

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Manchester United may have former boss David Moyes and West Ham to thank as they hold talks to secure a first summer signing.

An extended summer transfer window opens in just over four weeks on June 1st and there’s no doubt West Ham and Manchester United need to be ready.

The Hammers and Red Devils are unquestionably among the biggest underachievers in Europe’s top leagues.

Man United sit 14th, just three points above 17th placed West Ham ahead of a meeting of the two sides next weekend.

Both Graham Potter and Ruben Amorim have been given grace by their respective fanbases having taken over mid-season.

Big rebuilds needed at West Ham and Man United

But the jury is very much out on both, who will be under severe pressure when they have their own teams in place next season.

Ironically Amorim could well have been West Ham’s replacement for David Moyes this time last year.

Hammers chief David Sullivan held high-profile talks with the Portuguese in London.

But in the end West Ham admitted the Amorim deal was too expensive for them.

Man United had no such issues footing the £30m total bill – including salaries – to bring Amorim and his team to Old Trafford.

Now he and Potter face the daunting task of overhauling their teams while being up against it in terms of PSR.

The West Ham and Manchester United hierarchies have made it clear they must sell in order to buy this summer.

So a vibrant free agent market will be a first port of call for both.

Both clubs have been linked with a host of soon-to-be free agents including Jonathan David.

Ex Manchester United academy graduate Angel Gomes has also been of interest to West Ham, who are said to be eyeing other out of contract stars such Kyle Walker-Peters and CJ Egan Riley this summer.

Now it appears Amorim is about to fill the Hammers with regret.

And Man United have Moyes to thank as talks are held for a star West Ham had on silver platter.

Man United have Moyes to thank as talks held to sign top star

When Tim Steidten arrived at West Ham in the summer of 2023.

And one of the first players Steidten lined up as a Hammers target was Jonathan Tah.

Steidten knew the German international well from several years together at Leverkusen.

And he also knew all about a £17m release clause in Tah’s contract at the time.

The Hammers were said to be seriously interested in Tah as soon as Steidten arrived at the London Stadium.

A move didn’t happen that summer but West Ham were linked with Tah again in the January.

However, Moyes still had power of veto on all transfers at the time.

Some would argue that was no bad thing given Steidten’s record in the transfer market when he did eventually – and briefly – assume full control.

West Ham had Tah on silver platter

The Scot was not convinced, though, and West Ham passed up the chance to activate Tah’s release clause.

Instead, Moyes pushed for Kalvin Phillips in what would be a disastrous loan.

That January was the start of West Ham’s demise, which has continued to this day. They ended the season having conceded a club Premier League record 74 goals.

So man mountain Tah would have been just what they needed. And word at the time was the Hammers could have lured him to east London, especially after Bayern Munich dropped out of the running for Tah.

Now Sky Sports claim Man United have entered into talks to sign Tah on a free transfer when the summer window opens.

Reporter Paul Gilmour claims Amorim is actively considering a move for the 29-year-old Germany international.

He states that the Red Devils ‘have now positioned themselves as contenders’ for Tah’s signature as part of their summer rebuild.

If they manager it, they’ll have Moyes to thank.

It’s not the first time the Scot’s transfer snubs have haunted West Ham. And the same is true of his time at Man United where he was accused of dithering when the club had a chance of signing Cesc Fabregas and Gareth Bale.

Moyes had many transfer successes in east London such as Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.

But by his own admission he turned down Julian Alvarez for just £14.5m and decided against signing Viktor Gyokeres for just £17.5m before he joined Sporting from Coventry.