The Queen Elizabeth Park area is becoming something of a satellite state of the Czech Republic, with THREE players currently at West Ham AND of course the new 27% co-owner of the club Daniel Kretinsky all hailing from there. That three might possibly become four if the transfer planets align.
Vladimir Coufal, Alex Kral and Tomas Soucek are already at the club and might possibly be joined by their compatriot, Bayer Leverkusen frontman Patrik Schick. The 25 year old has excelled for club and country, he particularly caught the eye at the Euros in the summer with five goals for the Czech Republic including his ridiculous long range strike against Scotland.
Prior to the 'Kretin in the Sky's' arrival and his investment, Hammers would not even begin to countenance a move for Belotti who won't come cheap, as he is contracted to Leverkusen until 2025! It would take a bid of around £35 Million and a lot of creative accounting to put a deal together, but we understand this is a transfer the club is actively pursuing in addition to other less expensive alternatives from the Championship.
Having had their fingers incinerated by the excessive purchases made during the ill fated Pellegrini era, there will be an obvious reluctance to spend big, during January's window, or even in the summer when it reopens. But to play we with the big boys you have to compete, and that means making judicious acquisitions, NOT vanity signings.
Hammers fans are only too wise to false promises followed by mediocre substitutes for the real thing, but fans are not stupid and recognise Moyes is trying to overhaul the club's recruitment structure in order to avoid the Milo's of this World. As we have mentioned on numerous occasions before, the next striker signed will be the 50th to have joined the club during the Gold and Sullivan era and most of them have been duds or worse! So it is essential that striker number 50 suits the club and will be able to be integrated swiftly in to the fold.
Far from having a negative effect on Michail Antonio, a 'proper' additional striker would relieve Antonio from the constant responsibility he currently has to shoulder ALONE! The Czech factor may well tip the scales towards the Irons, and let's face it, the club is due a bit of good luck! - Ed
Comments
This is the player we want &
This is the player we want & need. He is a beast. I said we should have moved for him in the summer. Ideally with the current state of the squad we need about 5 players. Along with Schik. A left back (though if Johnson is used rather than Masuaku) we could get away with that. Definitely 2 centre backs as neither Sawson or Diop are to reliable. Plus Lindgard would be handy.