David Moyes has announced that West Ham United will not adopt the same approach they took in the summer of 2022 for the upcoming transfer window, as the manager outlines his plans, relays the Claret&Hugh.
Last year, the Hammers invested heavily with the intention of maintaining a strong position in the Premier League. However, this season saw a significant regression under Moyes, as West Ham battled to avoid relegation. The club’s survival was only confirmed on May 13.
In the summer of 2022, only Chelsea (£278.5m) and Manchester United (£227.5m) outspent West Ham (£179m) in the transfer window, according to Transfermarkt. The Hammers made significant expenditures to secure the services of Lucas Paqueta for a club-record fee of £51.5m, Gianluca Scamacca for £35.5m, and Nayef Aguerd for £30m. These acquisitions were expected to strengthen West Ham’s squad and build upon their previous 7th-place finish in the league.
However, Paqueta required time to adapt to the Premier League after transitioning from Ligue 1 at Lyon and has only recently started displaying the qualities that led to his purchase. Aguerd’s performances have been somewhat inconsistent, while Scamacca has managed to score only three goals in 16 league matches.
Now, Moyes openly acknowledges that West Ham will not replicate their significant spending from the 2022 transfer window. Instead, his focus is on targeted improvements where necessary. The club will adopt a more pragmatic approach during the off-season, driven by a greater sense of urgency to address specific needs.
Moyes told the football.london: “Of course. I don’t see us being huge spenders maybe but I don’t really think that will be the situation this year. Where we can and where we need to add to the squad, then we will do so.”