Jones, Stones & Duffy (an Unholy Trinity)

David Moyes is more than half way through his 'gem puzzle' rebuilding of West Ham United's first team and ancillary squad, unfortunately players have to be moved on in order to acquire the replacements the manager wants. To that purpose, Albian Ajeti has been sold to Celtic while Jordan Hugill looks 'firmed up' to be joining recently relegated Norwich City. What a difference a year makes, the wages handed out during the 'Pelligrinophile' era are coming back to bite the club in the proverbial!

£30,000 per week for the calamity that was Roberto, £50,000 per week for Ajeti, £60,000 per week for Carlos Sanchez and finally £100,000 per week for the 'Wheelchair' AKA known as Jack Wilshere who was a footballer once. These sums are just the tip of the ice berg, so it was inevitable something had to give! Of course the Covid pandemic brought matters quickly to a head, but the situation merely accelerated what was going to happen, the fact is the Hammers squad was over paid, bloated and the recruitment lacked any joined up thinking.

These were the actions of a fiscal 'serial killer', and the club must now pick up the pieces. Easier said than done, but baby steps in the market might help in order to secure 'realistic' targets, with a distinct preference for UK based players rather than foreign imports. The profligacy of the previous management means that David Moyes is having to scramble around in the bargain basement area, more Primark the John Lewis! Moyes has made strengthening the defence his main priority, and to that purpose he wants a new centre back/midfielder, but for very little outlay, with loan deals being sought from several clubs including Brighton and both the Manchester clubs.

Media speculation has put Manchester United's Phil Jones in the spotlight, nevertheless Moyes regards the long serving United man as a potential back up option to his first choice, Manchester City's John Stones. Moyes also has an interest in Brighton’s Shane Duffy.

Man United are likely to listen to offers for Jones this summer, despite handing him a new a four year contract last year worth well in excess of £100,000-a-week. He has spent nine years at Old Trafford and made 224 appearances since joining from Blackburn Rovers, however the Sir Alex Ferguson signing is a fringe figure these days and has played in just eight matches across all competitions this season

Although he is an admirer of the player, David Moyes has previously questioned whether the 27-times England international has the “desire” to reignite a career that saw him make just two Premier League appearances last season. Despite being on massive money (the same as Wilshere!) there is some 'wiggle room', should they wish, West Ham believe they can circumnavigate that issue by negotiating a loan deal in which they would pay only a portion of the defender’s wages.
John Stones is the player Moyes covets most of the 'unholy trinity', likewise he is available for a loan deal and the Irons would put forward a similar fiscal proposition to that which is required for Jones. Should neither of these 'options' come to fruition, Shane Duffy would be the proffered alternative, with West Ham again looking for a loan deal, although Brighton might well think otherwise!

Talks of loan deals for other club's cast offs might not be particularly inspiring, but they are realistic in the current climate. Hopefully the club will be able to off load some of it's fiscal haemorrhages, but for now unless one or two of the big earners can be moved on, it will be a case of 'Hobson's' choice, and we don't mean Woy! - Ed