Whilst at Everton David Moyes gained a reputation for dithering on transfers.
‘Dithering Dave’, according to the perception, repeatedly struggled to make his mind up about who he wanted to bring in, and that led to a lot of the club’s transfers happening right at the end of windows.
It seemed to continue when Moyes moved to Manchester United, with the Marouane Fellaini situation being an example of that. Fellaini had a release clause at Everton but it was only valid until a certain point in the window, and with Moyes not sure he wanted the player, that date passed and Manchester United were forced to pay a higher price.
On Friday we covered a report from Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad which stated West Ham’s interest in Leander Dendoncker was fading. The midfielder was said to no longer be a priority from Moyes, who had been left concerned by a recent unfavourable scouting report.
Another Belgian newspaper, HLN, now backs that up. It’s claimed West Ham have been informed Dendoncker would like the move to London, and the club’s board and scout Tony Henry are also said to be keen: ‘Only manager David Moyes, an eternal doubter, continues to have reservations.’
West Ham are said to have been informed, by a good source, that Anderlecht want €25m but the Premier League club hope to get the player for less. That’s quite possible, especially after Het Nieuwsblad on Friday said Everton could get Dendoncker for as little as €15m if they agreed to loan him back for the rest of the season.
Anderlecht have been all over the place on price, there’s been so many asking prices leaked to the Belgian media, both through briefing and direct quotes, that their bargaining position looks quite shaky.
If nobody else comes in, and HLN talk down Everton but bring in Watford and Stoke City, this could be a deadline day swoop should Dithering Dave make his mind up positively.
