West Ham manager David Moyes has confirmed the club has bid for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta and Club Brugge’s Hans Vanaken, adding that people “would burst out laughing” if they knew everyone the club has moved for.
The London club have endured a tough start to the 2022-23 season, losing all of their opening three Premier League fixtures, and are still yet to score in the competition.
Further signings are being targeted in a bid to improve that record.
And build upon a successful campaign last term, when the Hammers reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Widespread reports have attributed Moyes’ side with interest in Lyon’s Paqueta.
Reports are linking him with Arsenal and Newcastle United in a deal that would be a significant coup for the club.
Vanaken, a 29-year-old Belgian midfielder, is also a player the club is targeting, with Moyes confirming bids for both ahead of the UEFA Conference League play-off second-leg against Viborg.
He said in a press conference:
“We have bid for him.
“He can often play as a number 10, an eight, and a false nine for Brazil.
“I think his pedigree is really good.
“Pedigree doesn’t always guarantee that it works.
“But you would hope that it helps him possibly get better.”
The Hammers have made seven first-team signings so far in the transfer window.
And Moyes was not afraid to detail just how ambitious the club have been, admitting there have been plenty of bids for other players.
He said:
“We’ve bid for many players, and if I told you who, you would burst out laughing and say, ‘you’re kidding’.
“Maybe we’ve tried to go way above our station.
“But we have tried to get top players because I knew we needed it.
“For us, a couple of top players coming in would give everyone a lift.
“And help ease the pressure on Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek.”
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