West Ham boss David Moyes says he couldn’t afford to sign new Spurs and Arsenal stars Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus this summer.
West Ham have closed the gap on rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, finishing above both the season before last before falling just short in the battle for the Champions League spots last term.
The Hammers signed eight players during the summer transfer window to the tune of around £160m net.
Arsenal and Spurs have also spent well this summer but West Ham have – by necessity given the raft of departures – have outspent them both.
Tottenham and Arsenal managers Antonio Conte and Mikel Arteta can have very little to complain about given the level of player they have been able to sign.
Although some Arsenal fans were not happy with a lack of arrivals before the window closed on deadline day. And Conte has now said he needs another three windows to make Tottenham competitive with the elite.
Arsenal made what looks to be one of the signings of the summer in West Ham target Gabriel Jesus.
And Tottenham have brought in Richarlison for big money to finally add strength in depth to their forward options.
West Ham’s spending included what the club declared to be their new record signing in the shape of Brazil star Lucas Paqueta and £35m Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca.
Nayef Aguerd cost West Ham around £30m from Rennes while Maxwel Cornet, Alphonse Areola, Thilo Kehrer, Emerson and Flynn Downes were signed for a combined total of around £52m.
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Although Moyes yesterday declared he needed even more signings, most West Ham fans are very happy with the ambition shown and the level of player coming in to the club.
The Hammers manager was happy with the business he did and backing he had over the summer.
But West Ham boss Moyes says he couldn’t afford to sign new Spurs and Arsenal stars Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus.
Speaking ahead of the clash with the window’s biggest spenders Chelsea, Moyes said West Ham’s ambitious summer spree shows ‘just how things can change’.
“Leicester haven’t done so much business,” Moyes said in his pre-match presser.
West Ham boss David Moyes says he couldn’t afford to sign new Spurs and Arsenal stars Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus
“Everton have been huge spenders over the past and haven’t been able to spend quite as they have done in years gone by. It does chop and change.
“Clubs want to have a go and West Ham have shown that. But they (the board) are also making sure we are not putting ourselves in huge difficulty.
“We wouldn’t haven’t been able to buy Jesus or Richarlison at those levels that other teams (like Arsenal and Spurs) have been able to do.”
Moyes may not feel West Ham can match the likes of Spurs and Arsenal off the pitch in the transfer market.
But they have proved they certainly can on the pitch. West Ham were disappointed not to beat Spurs after a 1-1 draw in midweek.
And the hope is that West Ham’s arrivals will keep the Hammers competitive with the likes of Tottenham and the Gunners over the course of the season and coming years.
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