Moyes: We are not ready for new season

DAVID MOYES says West Ham are not ready for the new season and do not have a squad to compete for a top-six place — despite splashing out more than £100million on new players. Speaking for the first time since Jesse Lingard snubbed them to sign for Nottingham Forest, Moyes admitted he was ‘surprised’ the midfielder chose a newly-promoted team over West Ham. One player who has joined the Hammers is Burnley’s Maxwel Cornet, in a £17.5m deal. He will become their fifth summer signing after Nayef Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Flynn Downes and Gianluca Scamacca, taking their total spend to £103m. Yet Moyes admits they need more if they are to compete for the European places.

‘We need to do an awful lot more business,’ admitted Moyes. ‘We’re far from finished. This could be one of the biggest turnarounds I’m having to make here. It’s a challenge.’

West Ham host Manchester City tomorrow but their new £35.5m striker Scamacca is not fit to feature, while £30m centre back Aguerd has undergone ankle surgery and will miss 10 weeks.