West Ham are likely to keep David Moyes as their manager and will back him by targeting Fulham’s João Palhinha and Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes (below) this summer.
These are the two at the top of the Hammers priority list although the club – with David Sullivan taking charge of the transfer budget, alongside a new director of football, are unlikely to spend the £2oo million of last summer
West Ham have stood by the 60-year-old and a source told Claret and Hugh: “David Moyes is going nowhere.”
That has been confirmed by the club reaching the Euro Conference Final and being safe from relegation. Sources close to the board have been left with the impression that West Ham, who will qualify for the Europa League if they beat Fiorentina in the Conference League final on 7 June, will not be looking for a new manager this summer.
Checks have previously been made on Paulo Fonseca, Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Marco Silva and Ange Postecoglou as potential replacements for Moyes.
Meanwhile. the manager wants Palhinha for £20m and West Ham have registered an interest in Barnes. The 25-year-old has a valuation of at least £50m but he could be cheaper if Leicester are relegated on Sunday, when West Ham are the visitors to the King Power Stadium. Aston Villa are also interested in Barnes, who has scored 12 goals this season.
Say what now? Last time I heard, Moyes was definitely leaving because The Telegraph told us so. Looks like sense has won the day.
I truly believe no decision has been made to keep Moyes. I also have a feeling Moyes or perhaps hope he has had enough too. I genuinely feel it would be a perfect time for all parties to move at the end of the season. The outcome of the final for me could still be an influencing factor whether Moyes stays or goes too. If Moyes decides to set up defensively and again play Soucek in midfield and we lose then I think his race is ran. Hiwever if he goes more offensive and plays a Fornals or Lanzini in midfield with Rice and Paqueta and wins then perhaps he deserves the board backing. We saw how well we played against Leeds with players like Fornals and Lanzini on the pitch even with still carrying Soucek. These are players who should have played more this season but gave been treated terribly by Moyes. We would not have been in the mess we were if they had. In relation to links to these two players I do like Barnes. I also like the li is to the Leeds player, could convert him into a top class left back and to the Italian player who is friends with Scamacca, he would be a terrific player to replace Soucek in midfield, has terrific potential and his style of play really suits the PL. I think we will need 5-6 players this summer as I expect Johnson, Cresswell, Rice, Downes, Lanzini and Antonio to leave.