‘We’re closer’ – Moyes provides promising West Ham transfer news

West Ham United manager David Moyes has stated the club are working on transfers behind the scenes, with the potential for announcements next week.

The Hammers are short at the back particularly, with a number of players leaving the London Stadium over the summer but only Tomas Soucek being added on a permanent basis.

West Ham’s decision to sell Grady Diangana was a frustration for the supporters, but the club promised to reinvest the money to sign new players and balance the squad.

After a poor start to the new season against Newcastle United last weekend, new players could also boost the morale at the Hammers and add competition for places.

Moyes has admitted West Ham need new defenders – and said there could be good news on the horizon.

“I think we’re closer to getting players in,” the Hammers boss told the club’s official website.

“We’re edging towards it. Behind the scenes we’ve had a couple of offers in for different players and we’re waiting on different outcomes, so I’m hoping we might have some news next week at some time.

“We’re trying to get ones in who will give us good balance to the squad, but we’re also having to think really clearly to get the right ones and make sure we’re doing the right thing.

“The imbalance in the squad comes where we have fewer defenders to choose from. You have to remember we lost Jeremy Ngakia and Pablo Zabaleta, and Winston Reid left on loan as well, so the numbers in those areas have meant we’re short.

“We will try to bring defenders in, but we’ll also have the option if I couldn’t get them in that we can use Declan Rice as a defender as well.

“Maybe I could strengthen in midfield and give the opportunity to free up Declan to play as a defender if I needed to.”

West Ham face London rivals Arsenal on Saturday in the Premier League, with the supporters hoping for a reaction from the team.

The game at the Emirates Stadium is the start of a tough run of fixtures, with the Hammers needing to bounce back against the loss to Newcastle.