David Moyes says he wants to be the man to “mend” West Ham – on the very day the owners revealed the club are in grave danger of going broke. Annual figures released by the club of a pre-tax loss of £28.2million came with a warning from co-owner David Sullivan that staying up was “an absolute necessity for the future wellbeing of the club”.
He also added: “The principal business risk remains that of the football club being relegated from the Premier League with the serious financial consequences which follow.”
Despite the same figures revealing that £214.4m has been the net spend on players in the last four years, the Hammers sit precariously above the relegation zone on goal difference going into the clash with runaway leaders Liverpool at the London Stadium.
Moyes, though, currently in his second spell at the club, still believes he can be the man to sort out the turmoil at the club and – just as he did with Everton – turn them into Champions League contenders.
However, he warned West Ham fans that it would take time.
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Unfortunately right now, academy protégé Rice is really the club’s one major saleable asset.
Does that mean Moyes might have to sell the 21-year-old England international?
“I am not for a minute using Declan as an example,” Moyes said. “But if you are a star player, you want to play for the star teams. That is what happens – you lose your better players.
“I was only drawing reference that sometimes to be a successful manager you have to have a good team but also keep an eye on the bank balance as well.”
Thankfully there is enough money in the coffers for now for West Ham to sign versatile Czech Republic international midfielder Tomas Soucek for £20m.
Moyes also confirmed a definite bid has gone in for another player, believed to be RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen.
However, the club’s injury woes show little sign of abating, with Jack Wilshere due to go under the knife yet again for a hernia operation which will see him struggle to get fit again for the remainder of the season.