David Moyes has spoken to the media ahead of our London derby clash against bitter rivals Spurs tonight.

The boss has acknowledged that this is a very big match for all concerned, and knows that his Hammers side will need to be at their very best to overcome the North Londoners.

“Tottenham is a huge game for our club, and we want to try and perform well,” Moyes told the clubs Official Website.

“We try to give the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea – and whoever else we are playing – good games, and we have done over the last couple of seasons.

“It is interesting how the fixtures have come. I feel like we have had quite a difficult opening – but saying that you have to take the games as they come along.

“Every derby is really important for the manager, for the club, it can give everyone a good feeling. It just happens we are up against a really good Tottenham team as well.”

There will be an extra buzz tonight following the club breaking the transfer fee record this week having signed Lucas Paqueta from Lyon, and Moyes is excited to be working with the Brazil star.

“We have been watching him for a long time,” said the boss. “He really came to our attention when we played against Lyon and he was the stand-out player we felt, who was a game-changer for them.

“We didn’t think he was going to be available, and I never thought that we would make it happen – a big thank you to the board for making it happen.

“He was a player we felt could play two or three positions – probably more than that – and then we started to have a look back at his games for Brazil and his record for them. It all made good sense if we could get him – but getting good players and expensive players is not easy.”

Moyes is eager to challenge the top sides and knows there is more to be done, but is delighted with the work done so far by the board.

“We are trying to have a level of player we can use in both competitions,” added Moyes.

“We have had a big turnover [of players] but we knew this was happening, I knew at the end of last season this was the way it was going to go and the players we were going to bring in and [we had] an idea of the numbers which were going to be required. That is the way it’s panned out. Because of Europe we are trying to make sure we have enough to field two good teams if we need to do so and I hope we can do that.

“We are attempting to really try and challenge the best we can. We might have a bit to go when I look at the signings of some of the other teams. Spurs have made some really big signings this year. We have a long way to go but we are trying to compete.”