West Ham's transfer window a recipe for continued success
The 2021/22 summer transfer window is one that will be remembered for some time.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Sergio Ramos - just four of the heavy hitting names to move on to pastures new in what's been a whirlwind three months of football player shopping.
But amid the Europe-wide splashing of vast amounts of cash, there's also been a meticulous, carefully planned execution of transfer plans at West Ham United.
Money has been spent, players have come in and Michail Antonio is still the only recognised senior centre-forward at the club. But even though that sounds like a big, big problem, there's every chance that David Moyes and the club's recruitment team have got this window spot on.
Other problem areas have been addressed, the manager has been backed in terms of bringing the players he wanted and there's a great deal of versatility among the current squad - perhaps even enough to cover Antonio, should he be struck down by injury at any point.
So who have West Ham added and why are they smart pieces of business?
Alphonse Areola
You could argue that bringing in a goalkeeper shouldn't have been too high on Moyes' list of priorities, given there were already three stoppers on the books.
However, when you take stock and properly assess what West Ham had and where they will be in 12 to 24 months' time, you understand why action was taken. That understanding is taken to another level when you recognise how good Alphonse Areola could be for West Ham beyond that timeframe.
Moyes on Areola:
"Alphonse is an experienced and talented goalkeeper who has played at the highest level and performed very well in the Premier League last season,” Moyes explained. “As we prepare for a very busy schedule, he will provide fantastic competition for the goalkeepers already at the football club and we are going to need to use our squad to ensure we compete to the best of our abilities across all competitions.
“We have been aware of his qualities for a long time and we have no doubt he will be another player and character who will enhance our squad. We welcome Alphonse to West Ham United and look forward to working with him.”
Signed on loan from PSG with a more than affordable option to buy, Areola is primed to take over from 36-year-old Lukasz Fabianski not only in a couple of years' time but any time now. He showed his Premier League class with a number of top drawer performances in a struggling Fulham side last season, highlighting why Real Madrid wanted him as an understudy in years gone by.
At 28, Areola's best years are ahead of him and although Fabianski is not past it yet, you'd be surprised if he didn't oust the Pole to become a regular starter in the next few months. That's smart business, particularly when good goalkeepers tend to cost a whack load of money.
Kurt Zouma
A new central defender was an absolute must for West Ham and Kurt Zouma's arrival not only ticks that recruitment box, it offers up a real signal of intent from the club.
A Champions League winner last season and a regular for much of the campaign, Zouma has top level experience that is accompanied by a winning mentality. He had to fight for his place at Chelsea in the past, and although he's now moved on because the Blues had other options - and wanted to bring in more - he's certainly good enough to help West Ham establish themselves as top eight regulars.
Moyes on Zouma:
“Kurt is a player we have tracked for some time, and we have taken great care and diligence to make the transfer happen,” the managed revealed. “He was always our first choice and I am very happy that he is now our player.
“Kurt will join a squad full of players who are hungry and ambitious. He will provide competition to our squad. He is a strong, powerful player with great experience in the Premier League while he is also at a good age for a centre-back.
“Kurt has enjoyed great success at Chelsea and I can see that he is determined to continue being successful here at the London Stadium. Myself, the coaching staff and players are all looking forward to working with him and we wish him all the very best in his career with us.”
Moyes wanted Zouma above all his other targets, and his ability in the air will significantly add to West Ham's threat from set pieces.
Forget about the knee injury that was so talked about in the lead up to Zouma putting pen to paper, that was a long time ago - he's got his best years to come in claret and blue. Character wise, he looks like a great fit in the dressing room also, adding further positivity to a group of players who are really enjoying their football.
Nikola Vlasic
The big question this summer was: Will Jesse Lingard return to the London Stadium or not after a hugely successful loan spell?
The answer, as it eventually transpired, was no.
Moyes on Vlasic:
“I have been watching him improve over recent seasons – he has got a good goals and assists record during that time," the boss said. "He is also a Croatia international with experience and still being only 23, I feel there is more to come from him.
“I was really impressed with how determined Nikola was to become a West Ham player. It’s that hunger and ambition that fits with what we are trying to build here at the Club.”
On the surface, you'd imagine that would weaken West Ham's attacking arsenal. Lingard scored nine in 16 Premier League games, a huge impact that helped the club maintain their place in the top six. But Said Benrahma has been exceptional in the club's first three Premier League games, and Moyes secured arguably his most exciting signing on deadline day.
Nikola Vlasic is no stranger to England, having been on the books of Everton during the formative years of his career. He's blossomed since leaving Goodison Park, taking centre stage for CSKA Moscow and also for his country, Croatia.
He scores goals, creates them, looks bloody good while doing it and can play anywhere across the tip of midfield. That's a real selling point for Moyes and West Ham, with their free-flowing interchanging positions brand of football so far yielding some exceptionally positive results.
Vlasic loves taking centre stages and grabbing games by the scruff of the neck, which is exactly the kind of player Moyes needed to bring in to keep pushing things forward.
Alex Kral
West Ham fans love Mark Noble, it's as simple as that. Every fibre of his being is worshipped, everything he stands for is admired and everything he says is spot on - he lives and bleeds the club, wanting only what is best.
But even he'd be the first to admit that he can no longer be relied on to play 25-30 games a season, giving it full gumption for 90 minutes. Another central midfielder enforcer needed to come in and who better than a mate of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal?
Moyes on Kral:
“He will provide good competition in the centre of midfield,” the manager confirmed. “He is another young, talented player who we feel has a big potential and will be capable of adapting to the demands of the Premier League.
“We’ve brought him in on loan initially and, hopefully, over the course of the season he will make a valuable contribution, particularly with our busier schedule of fixtures. Alex is another established international player with the Czech Republic, and we hope he has similar characteristics and hunger to that of Tomas and Vladimir.”
The Czech duo have been revelations for the Hammers and if Kral is anything like his fellow countrymen, West Ham have another real winner on their hands. Crucially, he has experience of playing European football with Spartak Moscow, is a regular starter for his country and has been on the radar of Moyes for many months.
Indeed, Kral was scouted well before this summer's European Championships, no doubt after a good word from agents Soucek and Coufal. He's full of running, should settle quickly with familiar faces around him and has something to prove if he wants West Ham to exercise their option to buy next year.
* David Moyes was speaking to the club's official website about his new signings.
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