Former West Ham United and England midfielder Joe Cole expects clubs to be keeping tabs on David Moyes after the success he has had at the London Stadium.
Last season, Moyes guided the Hammers to qualification for the Europa League and then took them as far as the semi-finals this season, suffering a 3-1 aggregate defeat to German side Eintracht Frankfurt.
The job has been made even more impressive by the relatively low budget Moyes has had, the limited squad size and the fact that he has had a number of injury issues this term, particularly in defence. Moyes’ achievements have caught the eyes of former England, Chelsea and Hammers player Cole, who thinks that other clubs would be keen on signing the Scottish boss off the back of his work at the London Stadium.
“We have to be careful because West Ham lost tonight but you have to look at the whole story,” Cole told BT Sport. “When he came through the door, when he came back to the club, he bought a steeliness to the club and he will be very proud of his players.
“There was nothing wrong with the West Ham performance, it was moments. I think he’s at the peak of his career, he is a better manager now than when he took the Manchester United. He’s gone away, looked at things, has improved.
“There will be suitors for David Moyes from what he has done at this club because it has been 40 odd years since West Ham have been at this stage of a [European] competition before and it’s been on a budget at well. It’s a small squad, he’s done very well.”
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In what was a fiery encounter, Rafael Santos Borre’s goal was the only one of the game at the Deutsche Bank Arena, with Moyes’ side playing over 70 minutes of the game with just ten men after Aaron Cresswell was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul.
Manager David Moyes was also sent off in the second half for kicking a ball at a ballboy in the closing stages of the tie, an incident that could lead to him getting a one-match suspension from European competition.
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is also being investigated into after footage emerged on social media in which the England international had a foul-mouthed rant at referee Jesus Gil in which he accused the Spaniard of being paid and corrupt.
Should Rice be found guilty of insulting the referee or officials by UEFA, Rice would be handed a three-match ban in Europe next season. West Ham can still qualify for Europe next term, although the Europa Conference League is more likely than the Europa League is.
West Ham currently sit in the Europa Conference League spot of seventh place, three points ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers, although they do have a game in hand. They are six points behind Manchester United in sixth, but Ralf Rangnick’s side have played a game more.
The Hammers’ final three games of their Premier League campaign come against Norwich City, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.
