David Moyes is close to completing his first transfer move of the summer window as he closes in on the signing of Vladimir Coufal.
A €6million fee has been agreed between the Hammers and Slavia Prague with Moyes set to raid the Czech club for a second time having snared Tomas Soucek earlier this year.
Coufal was due to be in the capital on Thursday for his medical, which is expected to go without a hitch, having played his final game for Slavia in their Champions League qualifying defeat to FC Midjtylland on Wednesday night.
Coufal’s switch was confirmed by Slavia chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik after their loss in midweek as the right back heads for pastures new in the Premier League.
With four days of the transfer window remaining, Moyes is still looking to bolster his backline to kick into gear after the upcoming international break.
So, what is the latest?
Coufal’s switch is expected to be confirmed in the not too distant future and attention will then turn to finding another centre half, the second priority for Moyes in this window.
The Hammers have been linked with a huge number of centre backs and defendersin the last fortnight but especially since David Sullivan’s interview with talkSport just over a week ago.
Ready? Deep breath….
Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Guillermo Maripan (Monaco), Mohamed Simakan (Strasbourg), Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Nikola Maksimovic (Napoli), Wesley Fofana (St Etienne), Dennis Hadzikadunic (FC Rostov), Martin Hinteregger (Eintracht Frankfurt), James Tavernier (Rangers), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Joe Rodon (Swansea City), Callum Chambers (Arsenal). Oh, and James Tarkowski (Burnley) as well which now seems a lifetime ago.
Those are just some of the names, there are probably more that haven't reached these shores yet, that have been linked to the Hammers since Sullivan told the world he was “depressed” at the lack of transfer movement so far this summer.
Football.London reported two weeks ago that behind the scenes there was growing frustration at the pace of which things were moving in terms of transfers having sold Grady Diangana for £18million to West Bromwich Albion, freeing up funds supposedly to be reinvested in the squad.
Just over £5million of that will go on Coufal’s signature meaning, so that means there will be £12million left over. The Hammers have reportedly lodged a £25million for Milenkovic which was knocked back with Fiorentina wanting around £10million more to take him to east London.
Whether the Hammers will end up paying what is a going rate for a top quality centre back remains to be seen. However, they are running out of time to get that fourth centre half that Moyes desperately wants.
The reality is that the Hammers aren't particularly close to making a new centre back signing yet. The pressure is on for the club to tie up a deal for one in the coming days. Expect the loan market to be explored as well as the window draws to a close
