David Moyes and Tim Steidten have reached an agreement about West Ham United’s activity in the transfer market before targeting a deal for Youssouf Fofana of Monaco.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which cites Fofana as a potential transfer target for West Ham this summer. The Irons’ newly-installed director of football, Steidten, has identified the Monaco powerhouse as a worthy signing. But Moyes is less enthusiastic about any transfer.
West Ham are hard at work in the transfer market to reinforce Moyes’ midfield after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal. But Steidten and manager Moyes have clashed about how the Irons should prioritise their plans. Although the Hammers chiefs have now reached an agreement.
Moyes and Steidten reach an agreement over West Ham’s transfer plans
Moyes and Steidten now agree that West Ham need to sign more British players before they can target anyone else. Steidten had made a shortlist of worthy signings from the European scene. But Moyes pushed back, believing that West Ham need proven Premier League stars.
Last season was largely disappointing domestically for West Ham before a strong end to the campaign saw them finish 14th. The Irons were engulfed in a relegation fight for a large part of the term. They also only finished the 2022/23 season six points clear of the bottom three.
Moyes told West Ham that they must sign proven Premier League players to improve on last season’s struggles. And Steidten has now agreed to toe the company line and pursue British players first. West Ham may revisit Steidten’s interest in Fofana’s transfer from Monaco later.
Steidten identified Monaco’s sought-after Fofana as a worthy signing
Fofana has earned vast interest in the Premier League despite Monaco’s collective struggles. The Daily Mail reported in May that Chelsea and Liverpool have studied deals for the former pizza delivery boy. While L’Equipe cited interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United in June.
Serie A sides also appreciate what the powerful box-to-box operator could offer. RMC Sport credited AS Roma and Inter Milan, plus West Ham, with an interest in Fofana’s transfer from Monaco in June. It further noted that Les Monegasques value him at €35m (£30m) at least.
Fofana would appreciate any transfer to the Premier League over a switch to Serie A, which could help West Ham. Steidten must appease Moyes first, though, and bring in more British players. Even if Fofana could fill Rice’s void as a box-to-box threat in west London next term.
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