David Moyes breaks habit of a lifetime by announcing Everton transfer target and it gives West Ham hope

They say a leopard never changes its spots but David Moyes is proving that adage wrong by revealing Everton’s top transfer target – and it gives former club West Ham new hope.

Getting transfer news out of David Moyes during his time at West Ham was often like trying to get blood out of a stone.

It seems the Scot is a changed man since returning to Everton, though.

Moyes always played his cards close to his chest when it came to transfers during his successful stints with the Hammers.

He often dithered over deals too, admitting himself to missing out on a number of top stars at West Ham.

There were a number of successes too of course such as Tomas Soucek – who Moyes now wants a reunion with at Everton this summer.

Moyes changes his West Ham ways at Everton

One of the biggest frustrations during Moyes time in charge of West Ham was his failure – and sometimes reluctance – to go out and sign a bona fide striker.

A new forward is top of the transfer agenda for both the Hammers and Toffees this summer.

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Moyes always bemoaned a dearth of striker talent across Europe when explaining West Ham’s fruitless attempts to bring in a quality hitman.

In truth the Irons still haven’t come close to replacing Marko Arnautovic – who was at West Ham in Moyes’ first spell in charge at the London SStadium.

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Everton fans have already getting a glimpse of Moyes’ hesitancy over striker signings but the fact he has been talking up a new deal for injury-prone forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin – who is perennially linked with West Ham when transfer windows roll around.

With ageing duo Danny Ings and Michail Antonio both out of contract this summer as things stand, West Ham will need at least one striker.

But options seem to be limited for the Hammers as a number of their targets are being heavily linked elsewhere – not to mention Everton.

Now Moyes has broken the habit of a lifetime by announcing his top Everton transfer target and it gives West Ham hope.

Not content with trying to lure away one of West Ham’s best-loved players in Soucek, Moyes is also making it clear he wants David Sullivan’s dream striker signing too.

Why Moyes naming Everton target matters for West Ham

Sullivan’s two sons have been urging him to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.

In fact it was revealed Dave and Jack Sullivan haven’t stopped raving about Delap to their dad all season.

Graham Potter clearly agrees with the judgement of West Ham’s de facto director of football.

When pressed about interest in Delap during the January window, the Hammers admitted he is a player of interest.

But stated they knew they would have to wait until the summer before launching a bid.

West Ham have been hopeful they would be the biggest club of those interested where Delap knows he would be a guaranteed starter week in, week out. The Hammers also have the London factor too.

West Ham’s hierarchy were tight-lipped about Delap when his £30m relegation release clause was activated by Ipswich’s demotion recently.

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Everton’s own interest in Delap was mooted last month.

Now you could probably blow West Ham fans down with a feather.

Because Moyes has come out and put on record that Delap is his prime target to lead the Toffees into their fantastic new stadium.

Sullivan and Potter will be enthused by Moyes’ comments on his prospect of landing Delap, though.

Moyes has told The Times that he wants Delap.

But he has admitted he’s not sure if that will be reciprocated – offering West Ham hope of what would be a very reasonably priced deal by modern standards.

“He would be one who we would certainly have an interest in,” Moyes told the paper.

“I think what he probably has to look at will probably be bigger than what we are.

“So, we would certainly be interested if he was interested in us. That’s for sure.”

Why Moyes’ big Delap admission matters for West Ham

That’s not to suggest West Ham are necessarily a bigger club than Everton.

In truth it’s splitting hairs between the two clubs in the modern era.

But what is clear is that Everton – who have money to spend this summer after years of PSR restrictions – feel they can be in the mix for Delap’s signature.

So West Ham should certainly be throwing their hat into the ring too.

Chelsea and Man United have also been linked with Delap.

But the former are a something of a basket case when it comes to signings and squad size and Man United are close to sealing a move for Matheus Cunha instead.

Given Moyes’ big admission, Sullivan has no excuse not to test the water.

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