David Moyes says West Ham will try to be clever this summer by finding more hidden gems, like their Czech steals Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal.
Sportsmail revealed last week how West Ham doubt they can afford to sign loan star Jesse Lingard permanently, with the club’s income decimated by the pandemic.
Moyes, whose side are continuing to fight for a top-four finish and face Brighton on Saturday night, said: ‘Those boys (Soucek and Coufal) have really helped us.
‘If I could find another two like that, I’d be incredibly lucky. I’ve been so lucky to get myself two players from the Czech Republic who, more importantly than being good footballers, have been great men and great ambassadors.
‘They try to play every minute. They don’t miss a day’s training. They’re never injured. If I could get another two like that, it would massively improve our squad,. That’s not that easy. But I’ll try.’
Moyes says even if West Ham missed out on the Champions League but qualified for next season’s Europa League that it would be a huge honour.
‘Any form of European football for West Ham,’ Moyes said. ‘If you’d said that at the start of the season you would have all started laughing.
‘Now if we don’t make it you’ll be a bit disappointed that we didn’t get there.
‘Maybe sometimes you can take a step too far. Folk would be saying you don’t want to be playing European football on a Thursday and then [the Premier League] on a Sunday, all that carry on.
‘I do. I want it bad. I want the players here to want it bad. They’ve been getting it in the ear off me for six to eight months. I really want it. When you get a chance you’ve got to take it.’
West Ham’s Jesse Lingard was on Friday named Premier League Player of the Month for April – and also won Goal of the Month for his solo strike against Wolves.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce won the managers’ award after a month unbeaten which banished any lingering relegation concerns.