Report: Moyes blocked West Ham move for £20m ace; could sign German star instead

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West Ham United are mulling over a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah after David Moyes turned down the chance to sign Mykola Matviyenko from Shakhtar Donetsk, according to the Daily Star.

While Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena stepped up to the plate in style and silenced Raul Jimenez in Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers, one superb performance hasn’t stopped the Hammers from targeting reinforcements before Monday’s transfer deadline.

It seems West Ham have finally given up on Burnley’s James Tarkowski after a third bid, worth £31 million, was booted into the long grass (Sky).

But with Leicester now leading the chase, West Ham may be about to discover there are other options out there – cheaper ones too.

The Star claims Daniele Rugani, a five-time Serie A champion at Juventus, is one name on the hit list. Another, Napoli’s Nikola Maksimovic, has outshone Kalidou Koulibaly at times during the past year or so.

Tah is also under consideration – even if there’s a nagging feeling a man who made the first of his ten international appearances for Germany at the age of just 20 has failed to kick on since catching Joachim Low’s eye in 2016.

Tah has a £33 million release clause in his contract (BILD).

It remains to be seen whether Leverkusen are willing to accept a reduced fee, however. They are under no pressure to sell thanks to Kai Havertz’s money-spinning move to Chelsea.

The Star adds that West Ham were also interested in £20 million-rated Shakhtar star Matviyenko, although Moyes turned his nose up at the chance to sign the Ukrainian youngster.