West Ham United news: Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth reacts to update on ‘such a divisive subject’ around David Moyes
David Moyes is expected to sign a new two and a half year West Ham contract but it remains “such a divisive subject” among the club’s fans, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports journalist told GiveMeSport on 5 January that the Hammers boss appears to be “really relaxed” about his future at the London Stadium, having reached the final six months of his current deal.
But whether he ultimately stays or goes continues to split the fanbase though amid fluctuating form and discontent over the team’s style of play, yet after appearing to be heading for the exit an extension to 2026 is now on the cards.
Sheth said: “It certainly looks that way. I think he seems really relaxed about the situation. We think it’s going to be a two-and-a-half-year deal that he will sign and it’s such a divisive subject when you speak to West Ham United fans, because on the one hand, what more can David Moyes do.
“He came into the club avoided relegation with West Ham United and then got them into European football three seasons in a row. Got them into the semi-finals of the Europa League, won the Europa Conference League, their first trophy of any measure in 43 years, and then that obviously qualifies them for the Europa League again.
“He’s won the group that West Ham United were in this season, so he’s bypassed that playoff phase where they would have had to play a team coming down from the Champions League, so they’re straight into the last 16 of the Europa League as well.”
180-degree turn
Less than a month ago it looked highly unlikely that Moyes would be West Ham boss beyond the end of the season, with the club seemingly showing little enthusiasm to extend him ever since he ended the previous campaign with a trophy.
Apparent differences of opinion with newly-arrived technical director Tim Steidten during the summer suggested the old era may be overlapping with the new, and while the pair looked to have overcome the early difficulties the limp 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Fulham on 10 December appeared to see the Irons’ season going nowhere.
But after a Christmas period that included 2-0 wins over both Manchester United and Arsenal to leave West Ham in sixth it is apparently all-change at the London Stadium.
On paper that makes perfect sense because Moyes has kept the club operating at a higher level than any of his predecessors for multiple seasons now.
But the team are often difficult to watch, and while results paper over the cracks of that problem pretty well for the most part when the Scot’s pragmatic approach doesn’t work West Ham can inspire major discontent.
The manager has seemingly been close to the sack at various points over the past 18 months but has always pulled out a result or two when it mattered.
Whether that suggests he is clinging on by the skin of his teeth or ultimately delivers when the pressure is on will depend on which side of the divisive subject someone stands.
But it looks like that debate is going to go on for quite a bit longer if he is indeed set to sign a contract extension.
In other West Ham news, a big money permanent exit could now be on the cards after a first-team ace sparked “anxiety” behind the scenes.