David Moyes is finally closing in on his first signing of the transfer window with Vladimir Coufal due in London on Thursday to undergo a medical.
The right back looks set to join the Hammers from Slavia Prague as Moyes makes a second raid on the Czech side having taken Tomas Soucek off their hands back in January. A fee of €6million has been agreed for the transfer of Coufal.
The 28-year-old, barring any unforeseen problems in his medical, played for Slavia in their Champions League qualifying defeat to FC Midjtylland on Wednesday night in what is likely to be his farewell appearance for the club.
With a move comes the chance for Coufal to grab the shirt number he has had throughout his career in the Czech Republic and seemingly one that he enjoys wearing.
That is the number five, which he has worn for the last three seasons at Prague and also for six years when he was at Slovan Liberec before making a move to the Czech capital.
The number five is vacant at West Ham. It hasn’t been for long, the last player to wear it was Pablo Zabaleta who was released at the end of his contract in June this year.
There are other numbers that Coufal could potentially take, including the number 17 which was vacated by Jarrod Bowen ahead of the new season as he took his favoured number 20, with youngster Goncalo Cardoso vacating the number previously worn by Andriy Yarmolenko.
Coufal can choose from:
5
9
12
14
15
17
27
29
Prague chairman Jarslav Tvrdik confirmed Coufal is on his way to London Stadium on Wednesday night.
"I had to thank the great warrior Vladimír Coufal for his fantastic spell in Slavia," the chairman tweeted.
"The deal for EUR 6m was signed, he moves to West Ham.
"The last condition is the medical tomorrow in London.”
Moyes has been looking to sign at least one full back this summer having admitted he wants competition for places. Coufal may well be involved straight after the international break depending on the recovery of Ryan Fredericks, who is ruled out until at least the resumption of the Premier League campaign having picked up a hamstring injury in the 4-0 win over Wolves last Sunday.
