West Ham are keeping tabs on Stoke star Joe Allen after a move for top target Gedson Fernandes stalled. Express Sport understands that new Hammers boss David Moyes is willing to pay £8million for Allen as he thinks he would fit straight into his struggling squad.
I can't tell you. Your question is very straight and I can't say if it will happen
West Ham boss David Moyes
Moyes wanted to bring the former Liverpool midfielder in during his first spell at the London Stadium but a move never materialised.
However, Stoke manager Michael O’Neill insists that the 29-year-old is not for sale during the ongoing January transfer window.
But the east-Londoners look set to push for a deal after a loan move for Benfica star Fernandes fell through.
Moyes, though, remains coy about any specific transfer business at the moment but confirmed that West Ham are indeed interested in adding to the squad this month.
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He then moved to Stoke where he has played in 147 matches and has scored 19 goals.
Allen’s experience fits Moyes’ plans of saving West Ham from relegation which will be his top priority after replacing Manuel Pellegrini last month.
The new Hammers boss said after taking over: “The job first and foremost is to make sure we get away from this position.
"But I do believe that the squad of players I’ve got here is a better squad of players than when I took over before, so I am looking forward to working with them and I am looking forward to meeting them as I’ve not met them yet.
"I want to hear what they’ve got to say and I want to see what fits best for the club, but ultimately I want to play good football, I want to play exciting football and I want to give everybody something to cheer about and shout about.
“I’m going to be feeling very proud that I’m back here at West Ham.
"But I think more importantly I’ll be looking to see what I can do and what I can make improvements to, how we can get some wins with the players and how we can get some quick wins on the field as well. The start is really focusing on the immediate games.
“I want to give them [the fans] a really good team and I want to give them a team they can be proud of. But, more importantly, I want to give them a team that they look forward to turning up on a Saturday and seeing the game.
"I want them to be behind the team and singing the players’ names. I want the players to feel important, but I’ll tell the players the only way the supporters are going to do that is by them showing it on the field.”