West Ham to bid for Czech teenage sensation Adam Hlozek
By Alex Smith
West Ham are believed to be ready to put in a concrete offer for Sparta Prague striker Adam Hlozek.
The reliable @ExWHUemployee claims West Ham have stepped up their interest in the 19-year-old and are ready to make a bid for him in January.
The deal looks increasingly likely since the arrival of Czech investor, Daniel Kretinsky, who owns Sparta Prague as well as 27% of West Ham.
West Ham have increased their interest in talented attacker Adam Hlozek from Czech Republic side Sparta Prague – the club Daniel Kretinsky owns.
Prior to the arrival of Kretinsky, Hlozek was being linked with a move to London Stadium and manager, David Moyes is keen on his arrival to provide competition as well as a long-term option in place of Michail Antonio.
Hlozek is capable of playing up front and also out wide, which makes him an especially useful squad member.
His potential has been spotted by a number of clubs and West Ham will face competition for the teenager’s signature. The likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are just some of the elite clubs keen on Hlozek.
However, the existing link West Ham have with the Czech Republic could sway him to coming to East London. A fourth ‘Czech mate’ could join the Hammers’ squad along with Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal and Alex Kral, who all know Hlozek from the national team.
The youngster made his Sparta Prague first team debut aged just 16 and is now a first-team regular scoring four goals and seven assists in just 15 league appearances this season. He has played four times in the Europa League too, but is yet to score.
Hlozek provided sensational numbers last season too, scoring 15 goals and assisting 11 in just 19 matches.
Additionally, he has 12 Czech Republic caps to his name and one goal. In Euro 2020 over the summer, he came off the substitute bench four times, notably against England, as the Czechs made the quarter-final stage.
West Ham are not just interested in Hlozek in January, Jesse Lingard could be returning for a cut price after falling out of favour at Man United.
David Moyes may also want a centre-back after Angelo Ogbonna’s bad injury has left West Ham with a conundrum between Issa Diop or Craig Dawson to partner Kurt Zouma in the heart of the defence.