West Ham made a big mistake baulking at the fee for midfield star Sander Berge says Don Hutchison after a confirmed D-day attempt.
West Ham tried to sign giant midfielder Berge from Sheffield United as deadline day approached its conclusion.
That’s according to a report from Norwegian outlet TV2 who claim the Hammers were eyeing up a move for Berge before the January window slammed shut.
Danny Ings was West Ham’s only signing of the window while six of the club’s seven direct relegation rivals spent £350m on 30 new players.
But it seems Moyes did want to make another signing.
West Ham were heavily linked with a move to sign Berge when Moyes first returned to the club back in January 2020. But he signed Tomas Soucek instead while Berge made a £22 million move to Sheffield United (BBC).
It seems Moyes still likes the player, though, and was considering trying his luck with a move for the 24-year-old on last week. Some reports suggested the bid was a loan with option or obligation to buy while the Blades wanted £20m.
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has since confirmed the serious interest from West Ham – with the likes of Fulham also said to have made a late window move (Yorkshire Live).
Heckingbottom said the late interest from West Ham meant he was forced to withdraw Berge from his side for the original FA Cup tie with Wrexham.
But Heckingbottom revealed the promotion chasing Blades decided to keep hold of their star when West Ham and other interested clubs refused to pay the asking price.
And one former Hammers midfielder believes the likes of his old club will regret their decision.
Hutchison has spoken out on more than once occasion in the past of his frustration that player recommendations he puts forward to West Ham’s owners have been ignored.
Berge scored in Sheffield United’s 3-1 replay win over Wrexham last night.
And West Ham made big mistake baulking at the fee for midfield star Berge says Hutchison after the confirmed D-day attempt.
“And to think some Prem clubs could have got him for only £20 million in January,” Hutchison said on Twitter alongside a confused emoji.
“He can 100 per cent go up a few levels.”
It is difficult to see where Berge would have got a game at West Ham at the moment with Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta ahead of him.
But many would argue the Norwegian would have been pushing ahead of Tomas Soucek as he is a lot more mobile and better on the ball. And had West Ham got Berge in now they would alleviate some of the pressure around replacing Rice when the time comes this summer.
West Ham fans would have also enjoyed taking one of Sheffield United’s key men away as they go for promotion back to the Premier League given the rivalry between the clubs born out of the Carlos Tevez saga.