West Ham tipped to save millions on ‘number one target’ after record bid reveal – pundit
Noel Whelan has tipped West Ham to save money on their “top targets” this summer after failing to make any signings during the January window.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Hammers would have had to pay “over the odds” for new additions last month.
As quoted by the Evening Standard on Wednesday (2 February), David Moyes confirmed the Irons made “three record transfer bids” that were rejected in January.
He insisted he did not want to waste money on squad players who would not significantly improve the side.
Whelan insisted January was not a “successful” window for the Hammers.
However, he suggested the east Londoners could benefit in the summer.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think they probably would have liked to have got somebody in.
“But they’re building a squad that is built on characters, putting the jigsaw pieces together and getting the right players into the club.
“I’ve got no doubt that they’d have liked to have got another striker in because they’ve never replaced Sebastien Haller. There’s a lot of pressure on Antonio to lead the line and stay fit.
“There’s still a lot of football West Ham have got to play and be successful in. They’re chasing down the top four spots to try and keep themselves in Europe for next season.
“So I don’t think it was a very successful window for West Ham. I do believe they had targets but probably couldn’t come to an agreement to get them in.
“They’re not going to settle for second best. On that side of things, I understand them not wasting money on somebody that’s second choice. It makes sense to wait until the summer.
“They can see where they’re at and see if they’re can get those number one targets that they really desperately want. In summer, you’re not going to pay millions over the odds as you are in January.”
West Ham currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.
They are also in the Europa League knock-out stages.
In other news, pundit claims West Ham star’s exit is “inevitable”.