---
title: "David Moyes admits West Ham could struggle for good-value deals"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/02/08/david-moyes-admits-west-ham-could-struggle-for-good-value-deals/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2021-02-08T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-08T16:00:00Z"
---

# David Moyes admits West Ham could struggle for good-value deals

[David Moyes](https://readwestham.com/2021/02/08/fans-bemoan-david-moyes-fitness-update-on-michail-antonio/) has admitted that [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/02/08/fulham-0-0-west-ham-player-ratings/) may face a difficult summer transfer window in terms of securing targets who offer good value for money.

In a testament to some woeful decision-making in terms of recruitment, Roshane Thomas of [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2369468/2021/02/06/west-ham-transfer-spending/) noted that the combined starting XI which faced Aston Villa in a 3-1 victory last week cost less than just two recently-exiled West Ham signings.

[A combined £81m](https://theathletic.com/2369468/2021/02/06/west-ham-transfer-spending/) was spent on Felipe Anderson (£36m) and Sebastien Haller (£45m), with the former shipped out on loan to Porto and [struggling to make the team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/felipe-anderson/profil/spieler/159372), whilst the Hammers [accepted a substantial loss](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/08/west-ham-sell-sebastien-haller-to-ajax-at-25m-loss) on Haller in selling him to Ajax.

Such vast sums of money spent on now-disposed players is nothing short of financially untenable if West Ham are to grow as a club; and Moyes has made claims to that effect, opting for a cautious and conservative approach to transfer spending.

Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal are prime examples, with the Czech duo costing [little more than £20m combined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ham-united/transfers/verein/379) and [becoming firm mainstays](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) at the London Stadium.

Moyes was clear on his attitude to the next transfer window’s spending as he outlined \[via [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2369468/2021/02/06/west-ham-transfer-spending/)\]:

> If we find more players like Coufal, then great, but this is the problem: we’ve set the expectations when you bring in the likes of Vladimir and Tomas, and it’s not that easy to do.

> I want players who have longevity and I hope Jesse likes it here, I hope that we like Jesse and he thinks it’s a home for him where he can enjoy his football and thrive.

> But I’m going to have to keep looking because with the recruitment here, we need to keep getting more signings right.

> We’ve only really had a year of it now. There’ll be dips in it when it doesn’t go quite so well but I’m hoping that I can keep the levels up**,** and we’re not going to be a side that is always hovering around the bottom if I can help it.

### Read West Ham Verdict

The effects of the global health crisis are being burdened by football clubs as much as other institutions. Consequently, only the most in-need clubs are likely to offer their assets at knockdown prices whilst buying clubs are exhibiting a reduced willingness to take transfer risks.

It should therefore come as no surprise that Sky Sports figures showed that January’s net spending in the Premier League was [just £70m](https://news.sky.com/story/january-transfer-spending-slumps-as-pandemic-hits-football-finances-12206482), down from a comparative figure of £230m last year.

Unfortunately, Moyes is correct; finding hidden gems at good value is an increasingly uphill battle.