Players David Moyes missed out on before the transfer deadline could still play for West Ham United in the Europa League this season.
West Ham are in the Europa League group stages for the first time and have – on paper at least – been handed a kind group.
The Hammers, used to competing with some of the top teams in world football week in and week out in the Premier League, have been paired with Dinamo Zagreb, Genk and Rapid Wien.
Moyes beefed up Hammers squad but also missed out on a few reported targets
Moyes’s boys kick off their European campaign with a trip to Zagreb a week Thursday.
Moyes has beefed up West Ham’s squad for what promises to be a busy season. But he did not end up signing the left-back or striker he wanted and needed.
West Ham pushed hard to sign the likes of young Juventus defender Luca Pellegrini on loan before the deadline last Tuesday according to the likes of Goal’s Juventus reporter Romeo Agresti.
But the move failed to materialise and West Ham must revisit the situation in January having also been linked with Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.
Stars Moyes missed out on before deadline can still play for West Ham in Europe after rule change two years ago
Jesse Lingard was heavily linked but remained at Man United and reports have suggested he too might join in Jan (Claret and Hugh). A host of forwards West Ham were linked with the same.
But there is good news for West Ham that should Moyes sign Pellegrini, Tagliafico or any other player in January, they and two others can play for the Hammers in the Europa League knockout stages – should the Irons make it that far.
Some West Ham fans were happy to see Pellegrini had been left out of Juve’s Champions League squad, believing that would make him available for the Hammers in the Europa beyond the next window.
Hammers can register three new signings for Europa League after January window IF they make it past the group stage
But UEFA rules changed in 2018/19 to scrap the “cup-tied” rule for whereby a player who had featured in any European club competition could not play for a new club in Europe if they transferred.
So it doesn’t matter whether new signings in January have played in Europe for their selling club. However, West Ham would only be able to register three new players for the knockout stages after the January window.
That will be music to the ears of Moyes and West Ham fans because the club may well need to bring in a new left-back and striker in the winter window having left themselves short in both positions.
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And Declan Rice West Ham contract? The truth is somewhere in the middle.