Stuart Pearce has told talkSPORT that West Ham United are the victims of their own ‘so-called success’ as the market for suitable signings has shrunk under David Moyes.
The Irons first-team coach believes the standards Moyes sets has forced the club to target more specific options. West Ham have so far only acquired one first-team option in loaning Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. While also retaining Craig Dawson on a permanent transfer after impressing during a season-long loan from Watford last term.
Pearce justifies West Ham’s lack of activity in the off-season as Moyes refusing to sign any player ‘for the sake of it’. Instead, focusing on bringing in those who will truly improve his options compared to those already at the London Stadium.
West Ham are discussing a deal for Kurt Zouma with Chelsea, Fabrizio Romano reports. The Hammers will pay €30m (£25.5m) for the centre-half, with talks at an advanced stage. Le10 Sport also claim Moyes is imminently set to bid for Montpellier striker Gaetan Laborde.
If that is the case, Moyes clearly believes both will improve the West Ham squad, going by Pearce’s honest update.
“With the standards David has set for the club, the market we are looking at for certain players has diminished,” Pearce said. “We have to look, and think: ‘Can the player we sign come into our team?’
“We are paying a few million quid for them and if the answer is no, then you’ve got to check yourself and say: ‘What’s the point of bringing him into the club?’ We are victims of our own so-called success a little bit. We are not just bringing bodies in for the sake of it, they have to be the right ones.”
Are West Ham boxing smart in the transfer market under Moyes, like Pearce claims?
West Ham enjoyed a lot of success under Moyes last season by qualifying for Europe, so sides are likely looking to add a little extra to any deals this summer, like Pearce hints at.
But the Hammers have been burned too often recently to suffer a similar fate due to their Europa League place. Felipe Anderson arrived for a record fee in 2018 but has now left. While Sebastien Haller beat the Brazilian’s sum, but stayed in east London for even less.
So, Moyes is seemingly boxing smart, going by Pearce’s comments, to only spend on those who will improve West Ham. And ignoring any offers to sign big names ‘for the sake of it’ to avoid repeating his predecessor’s mistakes.
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