West Ham United manager David Moyes has said the club will be in the market for a new striker in the summer, but ruled out the possibility of an approach for Chelsea's Tammy Abraham if the reported price tag of £40 million ($55m) turns out to be accurate.
West Ham sold Sebastien Haller to Ajax for a reported £20m in January, representing a loss of around £25m following the French forward's club record arrival in July 2019. Haller's exit meant the Hammers were immediately on the lookout for a replacement but were unable to secure a deal for any of their mid-season targets, Moyes revealed.
Signing a centre-forward remains a priority, Moyes said, but the Scot was quick to dismiss the idea that West Ham had the money to spend £40m on Abraham or indeed any one single player.
"In January when we sold Seb we felt it was the right thing to do but if we could have found another striker we would have done it," Moyes said.
"We did. We bid for two or three but we did not get them because they were not available. But I wasn't going to get somebody who I felt was going to sit on the bench or maybe not contribute as much as I would have liked."
When asked if Abraham – Chelsea's top scorer so far this season with 12 goals but marginalised since Thomas Tuchel took over as manager – was a realistic target at £40m, Moyes replied: "It would rule us out completely. If that's the figure and that's what's being said, we are ruled out. We don't have that money, we don't have that to buy a striker at that price, no.
"It may well be [the total spend]. But you never know here. I don't think we will be making a purchase of that for any one player. I'd be surprised if we were."
______________
West Ham v Chelsea player ratings
-
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 7: Dropped a horrendous clanger against Newcastle last week but was hardly troubled in first half and had no chance by Werner’s finish. Busy second half saving twice from Mount and once from Werner. AFP -
Issa Diop - 6: Scored at both ends against Newcastle last week and was up against some nimble footwork in the likes of Mount and Werner. Solid day’s work here from French defender. EPA -
Fabian Balbuena - 6: Paraguayan defender was making his first start of 2021 with Craig Dawson suspended and started well although maybe could have done more to stop Chilwell’s cross finding Werner for German’s goal. Ugly follow through after challenge on Chilwell that was deemed a straight red by referee Chris Kavanagh after VAR referral. Harsh but looked worse in slow motion. Reuters -
Angelo Ogbonna - 7: Some timely interceptions and good reading of game in first half but was easily rolled by Werner in the run-up to German’s opening goal. Brilliant sliding tackle to take ball off Mount just after half-time. AP -
Vladmir Coufal - 6: Quiet first half from Czech and failed to give West Ham much threat down the right but was in right place to clear Mount cross at start of second half. Crossed when he should have shot with his weaker left foot just before the hour. PA -
Mark Noble - 7: One excellent run through middle in opening half from captain when he should have received a return pass behind the Chelsea defence but the ball never came. Sprayed ball around well and picked out Fredericks with one excellent cut-back. West Ham's best midfielder on the day who didn’t deserve to be substituted with 20 minutes to go. PA -
Tomas Soucek - 6: Great interception in centre of midfield that set West Ham off on early counter-attack. Had West Ham’s first real attempt on goal when his shot was deflected wide by Azpilicueta. But still not his usual influence on game and second game running that Czech has filed to find anything like his top gear. EPA -
Ryan Fredericks - 6: Playing at left wingback with Aaron Cresswell still absent, Fredericks went on one encouraging charge down the flank after 15 minutes but woeful final ball sailed out for goal kick. Plenty of effort but little quality in final ball. Reuters -
Pablo Fornals - 4: Certainly vocal with his complaints to the referee but Spaniard needs to let feet do more of the talking. Did nothing all game and should have been hooked earlier than the 68th minute. EPA -
Jesse Lingard - 6: In-form attacker picked up a few knocks in the first half and struggled to make an impact. Tried to catch out Mendy with long-range free-kick in second half but succeeded in only passing the ball straight to the French keeper. Much better effort minutes later with dipping strike just wide. Getty -
Jarrod Bowen - 4: Like rest of Hammers attack, had a poor opening 45 minutes and didn’t really improve much in second. Disappointing afternoon. Reuters -
SUBS: Manuel Lanzini – (On for Noble 68’) 5: Made no impact. EPA -
Said Benrahma - (on for Fornals 68’) 6: Offered a bit of attacking urgency. One good drop of the shoulder and run down left after coming on. Went for glory with late strike that he sliced well wide. Getty -
Ben Johnson – (On for Fredericks 83’) NA. PA -
CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 7: Swept up really well on edge of area to head ball to Rudiger on edge of box with Bowen lurking just before half-hour mark. But French keeper was lucky not to be punished for slack pass out from back 10 minutes later. Didn’t have serious save to make during the 90 minutes. Booked for time-wasting. Reuters -
Andreas Christensen - 7: Earned cheap yellow card for pulling back Lingard just before break. One swing and miss in second half but recovered to block Bowen effort. Important part of another excellent Chelsea defensive effort. AFP -
Thiago Silva - 8: Barely had to break sweat with likes of Bowen and Fornals offering very little threat going forward - but the Brazilian helped keep it that way with assured performance. AFP -
Antonio Rudiger - 7: Dealt very easily with West Ham's limited attacking efforts and was an imposing figure at the back. Reuters -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 7: Blocked Soucek chance in first half that West Ham claimed came off his arm – the referee and VAR didn’t feel deserved penalty. Played captain’s role in good Chelsea defensive show. Involved in touchline spat with David Moyes after being substituted. Reuters -
N’Golo Kante - 7: His usual hoovering up in front of the Chelsea defence but also flashes of good link-up play with attack. Booked late on and also produced one galloping run forward near the end but failed to find teammate with ball into box. PA -
Jorginho - 7: Neat and tidy in middle of park from Italian midfieldern that helped Chelsea control tempo of game. AFP -
Ben Chilwell - 7: Caught in possession in first 10 minutes that allowed West Ham to launch dangerous attack. Picked out Werner with perfect low ball for German’s opener. Left in agony by Balbuena's follow through that saw defender sent-off. PA -
Mason Mount - 8: Found space down right after four minutes and picked out Werner in box only for German to waste chance. Minutes late, pulled-off lovely Cruyff-turn to leave Soucek for dead but low shot was straight at Fabianksi. Lovely strike saved well by Polish keeper 10 minutes into second half. A danger throughout and comfortably the best attacking player on pitch. AFP -
Timo Werner - 6: Very hit and miss from German. Great chance in first few minutes, teed-up by Mount, but failed to keep shot down. Booked for poor tackle on Lingard. Clinical side-footed finish to open the scoring just before half-time for his first goal since February 15. Should have made it 2-0 in second half when Fabianksi parried out Mount shot but somehow failed to hit the target. EPA -
Christian Pulisic - 6: Should have opened scoring 15 minutes in from Werner ball into box but side-footed shot straight at Fabianski and showed flashes of good footwork but never looked like finding back of net after that early opportunity. AFP -
SUBS: Hakim Ziyech – (On for Pulisic 74’) 7: Scored winner at Wembley against Manchester City last week and straight into action here with some probing passes and nice touches. Reuters -
Reece James – (On for Azpilicueta 87’) N/A. Reuters -
Tammy Abraham - (On for Werner 88’) N/A. Headed over from a couple of metres out in injury-time, although was difficult chance. Getty
______________
West Ham remain firmly in contention for a place in the Premier League top four and qualification for next season's Champions League. The Hammers are sixth in the standings on 55 points after 33 games, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea but can reduce the gap to three with victory in their game in hand against Burnley on Monday.
A place in the lucrative European Cup could, theoretically, boost Moyes' transfer budget in the off-season, but the Scot insisted that may not necessarily be the case.
"From the conversations with the owner I’ve got an idea of what sort of cash will be available, at that moment in time it didn’t change whether it was finishing 10th, fourth or whatever it didn’t change at all," he said. "There is probably a lack of money in the game.
"There will be a lack of funds not just at West Ham but at most clubs this summer, we have gone through 18 months of a pandemic with no crowds, no corporate and cuts in most things, so I think it will be a summer of lesser transfer activity."
