David Moyes could boast two strong line-ups for the 2022/23 Premier League season with West Ham United interested in Emmanuel Dennis of Watford and Kalvin Phillips of Leeds.
The Irons will hit the market this summer needing to strengthen across the field to keep up their momentum. Moyes has established West Ham as a threat to the proven big six sides since returning to the London Stadium, and led the club to the Europa League semi-finals.
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However, the current campaign highlighted the Hammers’ lack of depth at centre-half and striker. Mark Noble will also retire at the end of the season, while Moyes has not seen a lot from £34.5m summer signing Nikola Vlasic since his deadline day deal from CSKA Moscow.
Injuries for Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Issa Diop this term will see Moyes strive for defensive reinforcements. The Scot is also still yet to replace Sebastien Haller as Michail Antonio’s sole out-and-out backup since selling the Irons’ £45m arrival to Ajax for £20m.
West Ham are interested in several stars from around the Premier League who could hand Moyes two strong potential line-ups next term, like Leeds anchor Phillips and Watford star striker Dennis. So, with that in mind, what could the Irons’ 2022/23 campaign XI look like?
West Ham’s possible main 2022/23 XI with Moyes interested in Phillips of Leeds
Moyes could unleash a starting line-up featuring four new signings next season, including a new goalkeeper instead of Lukasz Fabianski. That’s because The Athletic report West Ham are interested in signing Sam Johnstone and lead Tottenham for the West Brom stopper.
The Irons are the favourites to sign the England international, who is out of contract at The Hawthorns in June. Another free agent West Ham are interested in is James Tarkowski, per 90min, who report the centre-half has told Burnley he will leave Turf Moor in the summer.
West Ham are taking a close look at Tarkowski’s situation against interest from Newcastle and Fulham. His arrival at the London Stadium would see Zouma have a new partner in the Hammers’ defence between their right and left-backs Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell.
Further changes could follow in midfield with Tomas Soucek enduring a difficult campaign in east London this season. The Czech Republic international could now find Leeds anchor Phillips arrives in the off-season to take over as Moyes’ first-choice partner for Declan Rice.
Reports by 90min note West Ham are interested in signing Phillips, despite Leeds rejecting their advances in January. Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa are also tracking his situation at Elland Road, with a new contract possible if the Whites do avoid relegation.
Signing Phillips would see West Ham unite Rice with his England partner at domestic level, who starred together at Euro 2020. They could also line up in claret-and-blue next season with another Three Lions ace, with Moyes interested in West Ham re-signing Jesse Lingard.
Lingard spent the second half of last season on loan at the London Stadium and shone with nine goals and five assists in 16 games. Yet he returned to Manchester United only to live on the fringes. Now, 90min report Moyes has asked West Ham to secure his free transfer.
A move to take Lingard back to east London could be the only attacking change from West Ham’s current starting line-up. He would slot in beside star forward Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma, with Antonio leading the attack with his dynamic and robust central presence.
Possible West Ham main 2022/23 XI: Johnstone (GK), Coufal, Tarkowski, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Phillips, Bowen, Lingard, Benrahma, Antonio
Moyes’ possible backup 2022/23 XI with Dennis signed from relegated Watford
Fabianski would stand to start next term as the starting goalkeeper at West Ham based on his performances this season. But the goalkeeper, who turned 37 in April, is out of contract in June and could fall to second-choice if the Irons can agree personal terms for Johnstone.
A deal for West Ham to sign Tarkowski in a free transfer would likely also see Craig Dawson fall to third-choice. The centre-half has been a steady and commanding performer for the Hammers since leaving Watford for a bargain £2m following a term on loan under Moyes.
Ogbonna would also fall to a backup role, ahead of Diop, if the Irons retain the Italian past the 33-year-old’s contract expiring this June. He and Dawson could form a solid backup XI, with Ben Johnson and Arthur Masuaku providing the width from Moyes’ defensive line.
Meanwhile in midfield, Phillips’ arrival could push Soucek out of the line-up to join Manuel Lanzini, Vlasic and Pablo Fornals in the reserve XI. The quartet may also line up beside Tete with West Ham interested in the Brazilian’s arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, per talkSPORT.
The Irons have joined the race for Tete as Moyes believes the right-sided forward can take some of the goalscoring burden away from Bowen and Antonio. Tete is highly in-demand after only agreeing a short-term contract with Lyon to leave Shakhtar Donetsk during April.
Another attacking alteration Moyes is interested in is a transfer for Watford striker Dennis to join West Ham, per the Mirror. The Hammers are ready to pay £20m to sign the forward following the Hornets’ relegation, with the Nigerian keen to remain in the Premier League.
Dennis would also need to take a pay cut written into his Watford contact should he stay at Vicarage Road. But the Hornets accept they may have to sacrifice their star striker given the loss of revenues from Championship football, and will push to bank close to £30m.
Possible West Ham backup 2022/23 XI: Fabianski (GK), Johnson, Dawson, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Soucek, Lanzini, Tete, Vlasic, Fornals, Dennis
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