Reported Arsenal and West Ham United target Abdallah Sima should stay and hone his talents at Slavia Prague ‘just like Tomas Soucek’, manager Jindrich Trpisovsky told iSport.
David Moyes’ Hammers appear to have stumbled across a market which, a rarity in this day and age, offers genuine value for money.
Vladimir Coufal looks like one of the most inspired signings of the season at just £5 million while Soucek has made such an impression that, according to the Athletic, West Ham would demand £50 million if Bayern Munich come calling for Moyes’ new Marouane Fellaini.
Soucek himself suggested to Sport last week that the Premier League surprise-packages were showing an interest in a third Slavia Prague star – 19-year-old goal-machine Sima.
Yet they are not the only ones.
Juventus and Arsenal are also keeping close tabs on a quicksilver, right-footed forward labelled ‘the new Thierry Henry’ (Calciomercato).
But, with 13 goals in 18 games this season, it is no surprise that Czech champions Slavia are desperate to hang on to their top scorer.
“It would definitely be better for him to stay here,” manager Trpisovsky explained. “This is being solved by (Slavia sporting director) Jirka Bilek, I don’t want to know anything about it so that it doesn’t distract us.
“The transfer window will open in January, and it is clear to me that if a player has such performance and potential, foreign teams are watching him – he is interesting for them.
“We would still like to keep him. I hope he stays here and increase his price-tag, just like it was with Tomas Soucek.”
Jaroslav Tvrdik, Slavia’s always-outspoken president, said last week that it would take £50 million to secure the services of one of Europe’s hottest young forwards.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
