West Ham United should be extremely encouraged by this season’s accomplishments as a club. A solid domestic campaign that was supplemented by a fantastic European run, Hammers fans have a lot to thank David Moyes for. The former Everton boss has delivered on the pitch, which has united the club of it.
Similar to his time at Everton, Moyes appears to be running a tight ship at West Ham and is an influential figure at the club. The Scotsman certainly deserves to be given additional power to stamp his authority on the team further, with West Ham’s dedicated and loyal fanbase struggling to remember a season like this one. For next campaign, though, there are evident improvements to be made if the Hammers are expected to build on what has been a season of progression once again. Although most Premier League odds weren’t suggesting that Moyes’ men had a chance for a Champions League push, the fact that West Ham United were even part of the discussion at one point shows just how far the side has come under the Glasgow-born boss.
It’s important to remember that in as recently as 2020, West Ham were involved in a number of tense relegation battles. For the former Manchester United manager to then take the side on a European journey a couple of years later, coupled with the Hammers competing with the Premier League’s big spenders, is quite remarkable. With the summer window providing a chance for Moyes to add yet another layer of quality to his team, a striker will surely be the main focus. While Michail Antonio has done a stellar job of leading the line for West Ham in recent years, the ambitious Irons could certainly use another option in that area of the pitch. With that in mind, let’s assess three top candidates West Ham’s hierarchy should be looking at.
Ivan Toney – Brentford
Despite Ivan Toney having a rather slow start to his debut Premier League campaign with Brentford, his ability was on show in the latter stages of the season with some much-needed help from Christian Eriksen. While the Dane could be a potential addition for Moyes in the midfield area, Brentford’s main goalscorer is worth looking at also. Toney has the physical attributes to lead the line, and he has scored 12 Premier League goals this season. With West Ham creating more chances than the Bees, Toney could easily double his tally at the Hammers. Brentford would surely struggle to reject a big offer for their star striker.
Darwin Nunez – Benfica
Darwin Nunez is a forward that is being monitored by some of Europe’s elite clubs, but whether or not he’d be guaranteed first-team football should he depart Benfica for a European giant is uncertain. If he’s looking to lead the line in an established top-flight side and continue showcasing his talents to the world on a big stage, then a move to the Hammers would make sense. According to a past report from the Daily Mail, Moyes has an interest in Nunez; it’s just a case of whether or not the Uruguayan striker sees West Ham as the club for him.
Marcus Rashford – Manchester United
Marcus Rashford’s future at Manchester United is up in the air, largely due to a disappointing season. Rashford isn’t the only one who has failed to cover himself in glory in recent times at Old Trafford. Still, there is speculation suggesting that he could seek a move away in the summer. However, that is dependent on whether or not Erik ten Hag sees the English striker as a genuine option to turn United’s fortunes around. Should he be made available for transfer, West Ham and David Moyes will surely have to seriously consider it.