Dave dithered. No surprise there. A defensive target from 2023 who could play at right back and centre back loomed large in the West Ham headlights and then – nope, of course, West Ham didn’t sign the Celta Vigo defender: Moyes stuck with Vlad Coufal and – at the time – Ben Johnson to run the right hand side of defence. D’oh.
Thank heavens for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Two years on and West Ham’s interest in the same player is rekindled, according to tbrfootball.com who report today that alongside the Hammers’ interest and reported offer for Slavic Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf, the Irons are also hot on the trail of another defensive talent:
“TBR Football ….can confirm that West Ham have made approaches for international defenders El Hadji Malick Diouf and Oscar Mingueza..The Spain international has been identified by West Ham’s recruitment team and they have also had talks about a possible deal for him. He is also open to a switch to the Hammers.”
Which is half the battle, tempting a decent quality player to West Ham with no European football. Not a problem for Minguenza, apparently. Back in 2023 he referred to the Hammers as “a great team“ (as reported by team talk.com) when asked about links with a move to Moyes’ team. Maybe he’d better have another look at the team sheet before someone asks him what he thinks of the Irons 2025.
Two years ago he was described as a 24-year-old right-back who can also operate in central defence. He came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and went on to make his first-team debut for the Spanish titans in November 2020.
Overall, Mingueza played 66 times for Barca, scoring two goals, before leaving for Celta in July last year.
Another one on the West Ham ‘shortlist’ then, whilst the head of recruitment is waiting for a few Euros to go shopping. Maybe it’ll be Dosh, not Dithering that lets him slip away this summer. What a way to run football club.
Yup what a way to run a football club. Amateur doesn’t come close.
We had such an opportunity after the Euro Cup win to build the team, squad and club.
Blew it big time sticking with Moyes too long then choosing Lopetegui and giving him loads of funding.
If we had a manager that worked well with Steiden at any point and Sullivan left it to them we maybe in a different place.