West Ham United: Karren Brady reveals top David Moyes target live on talkSPORT
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady has revealed David Moyes made James Ward-Prowse his priority signing at the start of the transfer window.
Set-piece specialist Ward-Prowse joined the Hammers from Southampton on 13 August for a fee of £30million.
United also brought in Edson Alvarez, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus during the summer, but Ward-Prowse was top of manager Moyes’ list.
Asked to give an insight into how West Ham’s signings work, Brady told talkSPORT on Sunday [3 September]: “It’s driven by the manager.
“He has a clear target in his mind, and Ward-Prowse was his number one target he wanted for the start of the season.”
Instant impact
The fee West Ham paid for Ward-Prowse may have raised a few eyebrows, but it already looks like being money well spent.
The England international has assisted three goals and scored one of his own in three Premier League appearances for his new club.
That has helped Europa Conference League winners West Ham to 10 points from their first four matches.
JWP will now be looking to match his best return for goal involvements in a top-flight campaign – 15 for Southampton in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
It is also worth noting that he is only one direct free-kick goal off matching David Beckham’s long-standing Premier League record of 18.
Not all of West Ham’s signings under Moyes have been a success, but the majority have been superb.
And it looks very much like Ward-Prowse will fall into the same category as Jarrod Bowen, say, rather than Gianluca Scamacca.
In other West Ham news, an update has been provided on United’s shock move for Scottish midfielder Andy Irving.