Everton boss David Moyes continues to haunt his former club West Ham after his face-to-face meeting for talks with David Sullivan’s top target.
Many West Ham fans are already angry that Tomas Soucek might be sold to the Toffees.
David Moyes is keen for a reunion with the towering Hammers fan favourite at Everton.
A new board leak has revealed West Ham do plan to sell Soucek to Everton this summer.
That’s not the only move Moyes is making which will rattle cages in east London, though.
The summer transfer window opens in one week and it is huge for West Ham and Everton this summer.
There is something of a role reversal between the two clubs with Moyes confirming recently that Everton will have money to spend as they head into their fantastic new stadium.
Moyes embarrasses West Ham with early Everton move
Meanwhile, the Hammers will be bringing up a decade in their rented athletics stadium many supporters still haven’t taken to.
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And the owners have let it be known the club is at its limit for PSR and must sell to buy as they look to perform a much-needed rebuild.
West Ham are banking on making over £100m in sales to fund that overhaul.
So there will be money to spend for Graham Potter and majority owner David Sullivan, who is back at the wheel of transfers as West Ham’s de facto director of football.
West Ham are not the only club planning a major revamp. Everton and a number of others are in the same boat.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
So it is absolutely imperative the Hammers have their ducks in a row ahead of a bumper window opening on June 1.
But the Irons are already at risk of being left behind.
Because Moyes has embarrassed West Ham by holding confirmed face-to-face Everton talks with Sullivan’s top target.
A major frustration of Moyes’ West Ham tenure was his failure – and sometimes reluctance – to go out and sign a proper striker.
The Scot turned down Viktor Gyokeres for just £17.5m and also admitted he snubbed Julian Alvarez for just £14.5m when West Ham had a deal lined up to bring him from MLS before he joined Man City.
A new forward is top of the transfer agenda for both him and his old club West Ham, though.
Moyes holds face-to-face Everton talks with Sullivan’s top target
Partly because Moyes never properly addressed the issue during his four-and-a-half years at the helm.
He seems to have learned his lesson, though, and it’s to Everton’s benefit and West Ham’s detriment.
Because Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Moyes has had in-person talks with Liam Delap.
Not content with trying to lure away one of West Ham’s best-loved players in Soucek, Moyes is also leaving his old club in his wake by pushing to beat Sullivan to his dream striker signing.
Sullivan’s sons – who are Hammers board members – have been urging him to sign Delap.
Dave and Jack Sullivan haven’t stopped raving about Delap to their dad all season.
Potter clearly agrees with the judgement of West Ham’s de facto director of football.
When pressed about interest in Delap during the January window, the Hammers admitted he is a player of interest. Potter also sang Delap’s praises in his pre-match press conference ahead of West Ham’s season finale at Ipswich.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Privately, West Ham have been hopeful they would be the biggest club of those interested where Delap knows he would be a guaranteed starter week in, week out. The Hammers also have the London factor too.
West Ham’s hierarchy were tight-lipped about Delap when his £30m relegation release clause was activated by Ipswich’s relegation.
But it is Moyes who is making moves with Romano confirming Everton’s very real and serious intent to sign Delap.
“Everton have presented their project to Liam Delap in direct meeting with David Moyes involved,” Romano revealed.
“Face to face talks took place this week, as Chelsea and Man United remain keen on Ipswich striker. £30m clause available, Everton would be ready to offer an important salary.”
🚨🔵 Everton have presented their project to Liam Delap in direct meeting with David Moyes involved.
Face to face talks took place this week, as Chelsea and Man United remain keen on Ipswich striker.
£30m clause available, Everton would be ready to offer an important salary. pic.twitter.com/CPziLYWIcx
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 24, 2025
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What are West Ham waiting for as Delap delay could prove costly
The big question on the lips of fans will be ‘what are West Ham waiting for’ if Delap is entertaining the possibility of joining Everton?
The Hammers surely must at the very least throw their hat in the ring.
Over half a million per week is already being shaved off the wage bill at West Ham with the imminent departures of Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings and loan duo Evan Ferguson and Carlos Soler.
That’s before a number of players such as Mohammed Kudus are sold for big money.
So they will have room to rival any ‘important salary’ Everton offer Delap.
And £30m for a striker of the former Man City starlet’s quality and potential is a bargain by modern standards.
West Ham cannot afford to sit idly by and watch Everton sign Sullivan’s dream target without so much as a fight.
A worrying start to the window for the Hammers if the club cannot even compete with Everton for players.