David Moyes has admitted West Ham have potentially been too ambitious in the transfer market this summer.
The Hammers have brought in seven first-team players so far, with Emerson Palmieri the latest signing, and there are no signs that the club plan on slowing down between now and September 1 when the window shuts.
Moyes confirmed that bids have been submitted for Club Brugge’s Hans Vanaken and Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta, the latter believed to be in the region of £34m.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Europa Conference League play-off second leg against Viborg, the West Ham boss was asked if he had lost count of the number of players the club have been for so far this summer.
“Do you know what, I’d probably say yes,” Moyes replied.
“We’ve bid for a lot of players and if I told you who, you would burst out laughing and say ‘you’re kidding’.
“Maybe we’ve tried to go way above our station, but we have tried to get really top players because I knew we needed it.
“For us a couple of top players coming in would give everyone a lift and help ease the pressure on Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek.”
Despite the number of signings West Ham have been able to brought on, Moyes revealed how difficult the club have found dealing with certain agents and the added expense that comes with that.
“This transfer window has felt really long. That’s one thing,” he added.
“There are some players there in the market who have really changed the market price, some clubs who haven’t been able to spend, some who have spent a ridiculous amount on people, it’s been a very difficult market.
“We’ve found the agents really difficult and very, very expensive to get that side of the deal done. So much is getting added on to things now. If the real world knew where it was going, and what was happening, it would be a shock.”
