Football has always been about fine margins.
And no-one knows that more than David Moyes after one of the most turbulent but ultimately brilliant seasons in West Ham ’s recent history.
Last season, West Ham flirted with relegation, Moyes’ job was on the line and yet they finished up winning a European trophy and now the manager will have a bucketload of cash to spend.
It effectively came down to Jarrod Bowen’s last gasp winner in the Europa Conference League final because defeat could have easily resulted in a very different outcome.
Instead, Moyes will be given - and indeed has more than earned the right - to rebuild West Ham’s squad as they prepare for the departure of Hammers captain Declan Rice to Arsenal.
That deal alone will bring in £105m but it is obvious that West Ham are holding out for the best deal possible because replacing the England defender will be the biggest task of all.
Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria - who was on loan at Chelsea last term - is a strong possibility and the Italian club are willing to offload the Switzerland international. But it may be that they want two midfielders to strengthen the squad.
West Ham would have to pay around £50m to get Everton ’s Amadou Onana who was on their transfer hit list last summer but the midfielder chose Goodison Park over the London Stadium.
Onana was one of the few success stories in Everton’s desperate fight for survival last season and the Toffees’ finances may mean they have to balance the books.
They also have Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha on their radar but, understandably, his price has gone up in what is quickly becoming a busy transfer market.
West Ham have also been looking at Kalvin Phillips, Harry Maguire, James Ward-Prowse and Harvey Barnes as they look to spend the Rice cash but also invest in the squad.
Clearly, they cannot afford all of them and Phillips has said he wants to fight for his place at Manchester City while Maguire would take a lot of persuading to leave Old Trafford.
But this is a big chance for West Ham to really cement the solid foundations laid by Moyes and build for the future.
They were one of the best stories of the Premier League a couple of seasons ago and Moyes will want to get back to guiding the club to the top half of the table rather than flirting with relegation.
That is why the Rice money and any extra transfer cash has to be spent well because Moyes has built a formidable dressing room, a squad with real togetherness and determination.
Rice has earned legendary status at West Ham for the way he has conducted himself and then bowing out by lifting a European trophy. What a classy and unforgettable way to say goodbye.
But if West Ham get their recruitment right and continue to put their trust in Moyes, then it can be the stepping stone to a new era rather than the end of a chapter.
