West Ham United boss David Moyes has made it abundantly clear to the owners where he needs to strengthen in January.
West Ham dealt injury blow as insider claims player could miss six weeks
It is now just over five weeks until the window opens again.
West Ham have bucked the trend so far this season in that they have not suffered many injuries.
Michail Antonio has been the only notable absence as the season reaches the quarter-way stage.
And even he is expected to return for Monday night’s clash with Aston Villa.
The Hammers have made their best start to a campaign for five years.
Hammers bucking the injury trend so far
Moyes’s side could go fifth by beating Villa – depending on other results.
But many fans feel one or two injuries in key positions could change everything.
Concerns have been raised since the summer over a lack of depth in central midfield.
The partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek is superb.
But beyond those two West Ham’s backup is limited to ageing captain Mark Noble or playing fellow 33-year-old Robert Snodgrass out of position.
Under 23s captain and central midfield starlet Conor Coventry is being lined up as the next academy graduate by Moyes.
Moyes makes it perfectly clear to owners where West Ham must strengthen in January with Rice comments
But he has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken foot.
Now Moyes has made it clear to owners David Sullivan and David Gold that he needs to strengthen the middle of park.
The Scot has declared that West Ham are too reliant on Rice and it is something which worries him (Football.London).
“The role, his responsibility he takes on the pitch because of his young age, his leadership qualities will build,” Moyes told Football.London.
“I think he is doing a great job and we hope that he will be an outstanding captain.
“My big concern is that he is so young that we rely on him too much.”
Moyes is spot on. And as much as they probably need another striker in January, the central midfield area is even more pressing.
West Ham have been previously linked with AC Milan star Franck Kessie. Sebastien Haller’s all-action Ivory Coast teammate would be perfect.
But Milan are riding high at the top of Serie A and Kessie is reportedly close to penning a new four-year contract.
Could Lundstram be realistic option after links?
Moyes is also keen on Sheffield United’s box-to-box midfielder John Lundstram (ExWHUemployee and Sky Sports).
The LIverpudlian is set to leave the Blades in January after informing the club he will not sign a new deal beyond next summer.
Chris Wilder has admitted defeat trying to persuade Lundstram otherwise (Sky Sports).
And Sheffield United will try to recoup some money for the man who was given his first professional contract by Moyes at Everton.
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