We may not sign any more players, admits Moyes

  • by Staff Writer
  • Tuesday, 21st January 2020

David Moyes says that he and his employers are working tirelessly to enhance West Ham's squad ahead of the transfer window deadline - but admits he may not sign any additional players.

The current first team squad has been widely hailed as being short of sufficient quality in certain areas - especially at full back and in central midfield. Yet the boss was forced to admit that Darren Randolph could prove to be his only signing of the January transfer window.


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Tight budget: Moyes might have to make do


"We're trying to bring them in and trying to do it quickly if the right ones are there," Moyes said during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. "But you're hearing it from all the managers'; it's not easy to do business in January.

"We could really do with players who hit the ground running but also for the future, as well. Trying to get that balance is not easy this month.

And when asked whether he retained an interest in Norway international Sander Berge, Moyes once again refused to be drawn on the link.

"We've been linked with quite a few so identifying just one would be wrong," he replied. "You could name te or twelve. Obviously we will try to add one player, maybe two at a push, but there is a good chance we might not get anybody, like most clubs."

Despite the lack of movement on the transfer front, amidst rumours suggesting the club may have no transfer funds at their disposal despite having taken an axe to the first team squad's wage bill last summer, Moyes confirmed that he was happy with the improvements made since he returned to West Ham - even though the club had won just one of its three Premier League fixtures since.

Key to that progression, insisted Moyes, was the defensive improvement that has stemmed the alarming number of goals the team had been conceding under predecessor Manuel Pellegrini; the Hammers have conceded just twice during the period in question.

"Prior to me coming in we conceded too many goals and if you do that, you need to score five or six," he said. "So I need to make sure we are not conceding.

"I've done that and now we are juggling between three and four at the back and we have the players to do that. We missed chances on Saturday to win the game, that's the big thing.


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"We missed them at Sheffield United too but I am pleased overall that the players have been 100 per cent in things they have done. If you're a supporter, you can't ask for much more.

"We have defended better in recent weeks, that has been noticeable, we started well scoring four goals and then two and then we have had a nil and a one. I want to keep scoring the goals but also not making sure we give opponents the opportunity to score.

"We want to be able to play at times with three at the back or four for different games and it is common now to change. We have worked on both.

"The players' attitude has been so good, I have seen the difference in the stats and the work they are putting in. From that point of view, that is noticeable.

"They have given me 100 per cent in all the games. We saw it in the Everton game, I think their commitment has been really good, every one of them and I can only praise them for it. They have knuckled down; we have had to get them to give us something different and, to be fair, they have done a great job."

Moyes and his team face perhaps their most difficult task when they travel to Leicester on Wednesday to take on Brendan Rodgers in-form Foxes. Yet the boss insisted it is a challenge he is looking forward to taking on.

"Brendan has done exceptionally well but I have to give credit to their players as well," he surmised. "A lot of them have improved their performances. Everybody is well aware of how good they are - but we think we are improving and showing signs of that. I hope we can do that again."

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