West Ham United need new players in January but they may not have significant funds to spend.
The prospect of West Ham United selling some of their talented youngsters to generate January funds for new manager David Moyes has understandably gone down like a lead balloon among Hammers supporters, but there is an interesting alternative that could see them unearth, or at least dust off, some gems.
After all, with the World Cup on the horizon, there will be bit-part players both in England and further afield desperate to prove their worth before their team is selected next summer and, if Moyes gets it right, he could ensure West Ham benefit from their desire.
Some top players are unable to get the regular game time they need right now, with Jack Wilshere the perfect example, but there are far more options out there and Moyes would be wise to use West Ham’s scouting network to trail Europe in a bid to snap up a bargain or two.
Selling the club’s next generation to fund a less than guaranteed fix is foolish in the extreme and, with Moyes only contracted to the London Stadium until the end of the season, he should think similarly when it comes to his January targets.
What West Ham need are players both desperate and able to make an immediate positive impact at the club, and the additional motivation of earning a spot at Russia 2018 should not be understated in that regard.
West Ham’s board need to start thinking more intelligently when it comes to targets, with an individual’s personal dreams potentially making all the difference at a time when performances sometimes reach previously unseen levels just in time for the summer.
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