West Ham close in on signing Alex Kral on loan from Spartak Moscow with an option to buy at £12m and a medical being held abroad… but the deal is set to end their business after move for Jesse Lingard failed
- West Ham are set to end their transfer business by bringing in Alex Kral on loan
- Spartak Moscow midfielder Kral will have his medical abroad ahead of the move
- He has been on West Ham’s radar for several months and played at Euro 2020
- David Moyes has also recruited Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic over recent days
West Ham are close to finalising the loan of Czech international Alex Kral with an option to buy at £12million.
The Spartak Moscow midfielder is undergoing his medical abroad as West Ham look to rush through the paperwork before tonight’s 11pm deadline.
The 23-year old has been on West Ham’s radar for several months and played for the Czechs during Euro 2020.
West Ham are close to finalising a loan swoop for Spartak Moscow midfielder Alex Kral (left)
Kral began his career with Teplice in his homeland, and spent three years there – playing 48 times – before then joining Slavia Prague.
His spells there and in Moscow have seen him become a regular for the Czech Republic, and he has been awarded 22 caps.
He made 29 appearances in the Russian Premier League last season and helped Spartak to finish second.
Kral (pictured in action for the Czech Republic at Euro 2020) may be bought for £12m next year
This term, he has already played seven times, picking up one assist.
David Moyes has been able to rely on Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek at the heart of his team this season, but West Ham have been touted to buy another midfielder.
Soucek is set to become a team-mate of Kral’s for both club and country, having already played alongside him this summer at the Euros.
Moyes has also overseen the signings of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea and Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow in the past few days.
Currently undergoing his medical abroad, Kral is expected to round off West Ham’s business
Kral would complete their business in this window, it is understood.
They tried on Sunday to revive a deal for Jesse Lingard, however, and maintained hope of striking an agreement.
But the fact he has just one year left on contract at Manchester United made the transfer difficult, taking into account West Ham’s limited budget.
Lingard is now expected to stay at United, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational return to the club from Old Trafford being officially confirmed.