David Moyes does not want to ‘waste any money’ as West Ham look for the perfect January recruits

David Moyes is adopting the famous All Blacks “No D********” policy as he looks to bolster the West Ham squad for a Champions League push this month.

Instead of splashing the cash on a star name, the Hammers manager is in the market for humble, hard working players to add to his tight-knit squad in east London.

West Ham sit fourth in the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford and Moyes is keen to add to his squad this month in order to maintain their push for a remarkable top four finish.

The former United and Everton boss has a wonderful record in the transfer market since returning to West Ham and has often added reliable, un-exotic names and turned them into top Premier League players, forging a band of brothers spirit at the London Stadium.

Asked whether breaking into the Champions League places would mean having to manage bigger egos, Moyes said: “That’s a really good question because I don’t think any manager wants d********. And I don’t know if you can correlate d******** with big egos, there is a difference. You can have a big ego and not be a d*******.

“We are still building here at West Ham. We have to keep putting a few layers on before we can be talked about as challenging. If possible I would like to give the West Ham supporters someone else they can shout about, someone else they can see a continued line of us trying to keep it going.

“But what I don’t want to do is waste any money. I would rather keep it and pay bigger for someone next summer if I have to rather than waste it on someone that I might not use at the moment.

“I love team players and people who are going to be part of the team. People who are really committed and are going to work, score goals and defend goals, whatever it may be.”

Moyes added: “We’ve got a humble group of players.

“Very honest. I’ve got to say great group who have got a tougher mentality now than they’ve ever had. We are hugely disappointed that we didn’t win last week.

“The players feel it, I felt it, we know we missed an opportunity to get three valuable points but that’s going to happen in a Premier League season.”

Moyes was in the stands to watch Saturday’s opponents Manchester United beat Brentford on Wednesday night and, sat above the dugout in west London, had a prime view of Cristiano Ronaldo’s strop after being substituted.

While the West Ham boss says managing egos is a difficult part of the job for any coach, the 58-year-old hailed Ronaldo for his drive and leadership.

“It’s a big thing, it really is [managing egos], for all coaches at all the clubs,” said Moyes.

“It will be the same at a lot of the other big clubs. I have to say you’re talking about, what, the best player in the world? He’s phenomenal, that he can do what he’s done.

“For me the biggest thing about Ronaldo is his hunger to play and his hunger to not let up. I see him driving all the players on, showing leadership. For a manager he must be a great player because he’s got a level of commitment, preparation, dedication to the game and himself which will always give him a chance of being effective. At the big clubs you’ll always get players with egos and that’s a part of the job.

“Looking at people like Ronaldo, who is a great example to so many young footballers how you can prolong your career, how you can keep going, keep yourself in incredible shape through dedication.”

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