Transfer insider Dean Jones has slammed the West Ham United 'scattergun' approach to the transfer market suggesting that it could negatively impact players wanting to join them.

What’s the latest?

With the winter window now open, the Hammers have been linked with a number of names already. For instance, they had been strongly linked with Terem Moffi before the club then pulled off a deal with Aston Villa for Danny Ings. And while it remains to be seen if the club retain an interest in the Lorient forward, this latest development proves how West Ham like to have a number of deals going on at once. And while this may help the Premier League side move from deal to deal quickly should they encounter any problems, they do run the risk of leaving transfer targets feeling as those they are just one name amongst many on a list – as opposed to being the one player the Hammers really want to sign. While speaking on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones made this point, saying: "I mean, West Ham just look at too many players. It's simple. They literally like scattergun across Europe and then they see where they land. "And they genuinely do go after two or three players at the same time to see which one progresses in the way that best suits them, and then they'll narrow it down and just start pushing them aside to narrow in on the one they actually want. He continued: "Even for the players, I think it's quite frustrating, because it sounds like, from agents I speak to, it is difficult to get a grasp on whether you're the player they even really want or whether you're just a player they might want."

Too many options?

Of course, every team will have a list of primary targets they want and they will no doubt have alternatives should one transfer fall through for any reason, but it does seem as though West Ham perhaps take this method a little too far. Still, with David Moyes' men struggling down towards the very bottom of the league table, it's no shock that reinforcements are wanted. At least for now, Ings has arrived and has over 100 senior goals to his name at club level across the span of his career, the former Villan should at least bring some immediate firepower to the club's ranks. As for Moffi, well if Michail Antonio does leave this month – amid talks of a switch to Wolves – then perhaps the club will be glad to have another striker already lined up and ready to move for.