New Everton boss David Moyes is becoming a bit of a problem for West Ham in the January transfer window.
David Moyes will know all about West Ham’s long-term transfer targets having spent the last four-and-a-half years in east London.
Now it seems he is using that knowledge against the Hammers with Everton.
It emerged yesterday that the Toffees have launched a move to beat West Ham to a powerhouse midfielder.
Both the Hammers and Everton desperately need to strengthen their squads this month.
Like Everton, West Ham had prioritised bringing in a striker and midfielder.
In fact Graham Potter identified midfield as his major problem just a few days into the job.
The Irons have been looking at a number of midfield targets for their new boss.
Everton are also actively searching for new midfielder and striker too.
West Ham’s targets allegedly include English quartet Angel Gomes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka and Jobe Bellingham as well as Dutchman Ezechiel Banzuzi.
West Ham trying to fend off Moyes as Everton rival bid
Any one of those would improve a West Ham midfield that is quite literally at the heart of all the club’s problems.
Slow, immobile and lacking in dynamism, West Ham’s midfield offers little protection to the back four or much guile going the other way.
It seems Moyes feels Everton need another midfielder too.
Because West Ham are trying to fend off Moyes as Everton rival their bid for a £15m Sunderland star.
That’s according to Alex Crook.
The talkSPORT reporter states that West Ham and Everton are boy vying for Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.
Sunderland want Neil to stay as they push for promotion to the Premier League.
But Crook claims West Ham and Everton are very much looking at January moves for Neil.
The 23-year-old is an academy graduate and boyhood Sunderland fan as well as the club’s captain.
So prising him away might prove difficult for the Hammers or Toffees.
But they’re certainly going to try according to Crook.
Hammers and Toffees want £15m Sunderland star Neil
So what would West Ham and Everton be getting if they signed Neil?
If Potter and Moyes are looking for a new midfield general then they’re looking in the right place by identifying Sunderland’s 23-year-old star Neil.
Things haven’t always been easy for Neil at Sunderland.
He struggled in a defensive midfield role at first but has grown in stature since the arrival of Jobe Bellingham.
Not only does Neil glide around the pitch with the ball at his feet, his passing and switching of the play has been superb.
After switching to a more advanced role, Neil seems to have a better appreciation of what’s required in back in the defensive third.
Midfield a big priority for Moyes and Potter
Sunderland fans had given Neil a hard time when he was struggling. But they’re loving him now and will be hoping West Ham and Everton don’t lure him away.
For the Premier League rivals, another big plus with Neil is the fact he will count towards ticking a homegrown player box.
Neil is not the only young midfielder West Ham are trying to sign, though.
The Hammers have now made an official offer for Banzuzi.
Reports that West Ham had agreed a deal to sign the giant Dutch star jumped the gun yesterday.
But West Ham have now officially made a bid to OH Leuven.
The Hammers should be careful of Everton, though.
Given Moyes is already trying to hijack moves for Neil and Carney Chukwuemeka, what’s stopping him adding Banzuzi to the list.
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