West Ham tipped to sign proven Premier League talent after manager reveal – ex-GSB employee
Alex McLeish has tipped West Ham to target proven Premier League talent this summer after David Moyes hinted at a “change of the guard”.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland manager insisted the Irons cannot rely on “youngsters” to fill the gaps in the squad.
As quoted by the Evening Standard on Wednesday (9 March), Moyes insisted the Hammers “do have to make changes in the summer” and confirmed they are “looking for players” ahead of the off-season.
The Scottish boss acknowledged “things will be broken” both on and off the pitch, with the likes of Mark Noble hanging up his boots at the end of the current campaign.
McLeish, who managed Birmingham City when they were owned and run by David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady, suggested Moyes will look for tried and tested options to plug the gaps, rather than relying on youth.
McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I’ve been in recruitment for a long, long time now. When I started recruiting for my very first club, I’d be thinking that I’ve got players who looked like the centre-forward that I had.
“I was forgetting that the centre-forward I had was 10 years older than this kid coming into the club. You realise very quickly, when they get nailed by the better centre-halves, they’re not at that level yet.
“Not for a long while would they be at that level. It’s why, when you lose a lot of players, you’re not going to fill those gaps with youngsters.
“You’ll get one or two but you won’t get player after player off the conveyor belt. They won’t fill the gigantic shoes of these players that are leaving.
“There has to be a strategy with recruitment people. Moyes will be very, very aware of this. He’s a massively experienced manager. He’ll be looking for really solid pros to fit the bill and fit the squad.
“Give them credit for their recruitment over the last couple of years. The Czech Republic guys, they’re an emerging nation, those two guys have slotted into the Premier League well.
“There have been one or two other smashing bits of business.”
In other news, pundit claims West Ham squad player has quashed Moyes’ fears about losing Declan Rice.