Transfer insider Dean Jones has explained that some of West Ham’s January transfer targets have increased their wage demands upon realising the Hammers’ interest.
David Moyes is yet to add to his squad this winter despite there being clear evidence that his current squad is dangerously thin and not big enough to consistently compete across all fronts during the second half of the season.
A striker and a centre-back have been the priority positions that are in desperate need of strengthening this month but so far it has been all rumours and no action in east London.
A lack of transfer activity has got fans nervous as we head into the final few days before the transfer window closes on Monday 31st, but Dean Jones may have given us all an insight into why it has been hard for Moyes to bring in the players he wants.
He told West Ham World: “Some of the people that they’ve looked at signing, they hear that West Ham are interested and they propel their expectation towards, like, the 100 grand a week barrier.”
According to Spotrac, there are currently only two players – Kurt Zouma and Andriy Yarmolenko – earning over £100k-a-week at London Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen isn’t far off it with a salary of £96k-a-week but after that, the nearest earners are on £70k-a-week, and they’re all regular first-team players.
There is of course a danger of upsetting the dressing room when it comes to bringing in new players on big wages, with the potential of key members of the squad being unsettled by the lack of wage parity.
That may or may not be the case in West Ham’s dressing room and may not be the reason why West Ham haven’t yet signed anyone, but Jones’ insight into what the Hammers’ transfer targets have been demanded perhaps hints that Moyes is wary of paying big wages for new signings this winter and that they have been frustrated in their attempts to bring in their main targets.
