Green Street Hammers
Fansided

West Ham want Patrik Schick – but it would take a club record fee

By Alex Smith

Leverkusen's Czech forward Patrik Schick celebrates scoring the opening goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1 FC Cologne v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in Cologne, western Germany, on October 24, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by UWE KRAFT / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by UWE KRAFT/AFP via Getty Images)
Leverkusen's Czech forward Patrik Schick celebrates scoring the opening goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1 FC Cologne v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in Cologne, western Germany, on October 24, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by UWE KRAFT / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by UWE KRAFT/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

West Ham exploring the possibility of signing Czech Republic and Bayer Leverkusen striker, Patrik Schick.

The 25-year-old lit up Euro 2020 scoring the goal of the tournament and finishing as second highest scorer in the competition drawing attention from the likes of Arsenal, Man City and Barcelona.

According to various reports it could take a £40-50 million bid to bring him to London Stadium, which could the top the club’s record transfer fee paid for Sebastien Haller.

West Ham are interested in Patrik Schick, the Czech striker has scored more league goals than games played this season.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JUNE 14: Patrik Schick of Czech Republic celebrates with team mates after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D match between Scotland v Czech Republic at Hampden Park on June 14, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Petr Josek – Pool/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JUNE 14: Patrik Schick of Czech Republic celebrates with team mates after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D match between Scotland v Czech Republic at Hampden Park on June 14, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Petr Josek – Pool/Getty Images) /

Schick made a name for himself with his performances at Euro 2020 including that unforgettable 50-yard goal versus Scotland however, Schick is far from a one tournament wonder.

He has scored 16 goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances this season building on previous season’s tallies in all competition of 13 and 10 respectively.

West Ham want a striker in January to provide competition to Michail Antonio and other attackers like Jarrod Bowen. However, signing him in January will prove incredibly tough.

Bayer Leverkusen are fighting for a Champions League spot in the Bundesliga and similarly to the Hammers, they topped their Europa League group and are through to the last 16. No club wants to sell their best player but especially not during the season.

However, West Ham have a number of links to Schick that could perhaps give David Moyes the upper hand in trying to sign him.

New shareholder, Daniel Kretinsky, owns Schick’s former club Sparta Prague. Kretinsky was the man who sold him to Sampdoria, giving him his first move to a major European league. This led to him moving to Roma and RB Leipzig before his switch to Bayer Leverkusen.

Also, of course, being from the Czech Republic helps with the Hammers having a connection to the country. For example, West Ham players known as the ‘Czech mates’, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal and Alex Kral, already know the star striker and could perhaps try to tempt him to the East London; like Soucek did to Coufal.

Signing Schick remains difficult so perhaps a move for fellow Czech striker Adam Hlozek is more likely.

It is clear West Ham are scouting the Bundesliga, the Hammers have been monitoring Matthias Ginter and Niklas Sule too.

Home/West Ham News