Slavia Prague president Jaroslav Tvrdik admits it’s “very likely” that West Ham United and Arsenal target Abdallah Sima will be sold while confirming Premier League interest in the highly rated striker, as reported by Wiw Sport.
If the Hammers hoped to keep their interest in the Senegal international quiet, we can only assume Jindrich Trpisovsky won’t be getting a Christmas card from the London Stadium this year.
“Several clubs are interested in Abdallah Sima,” the Slavia Prague manager said a few weeks ago.
“We also spoke with the leaders of West Ham and they told us they place (Sima) very high on the list of their potential reinforcements.”
Talk about letting the cat out of the bag.
Sima, of course, isn’t the only striker on West Ham’s radar.
The Premier League’s surprise packages have also been linked with Adam Hlozek and Jan Kuchta, while launching a bid for Serie A frontman Giovanni Simeone.
20-year-old Sima may be the most exciting of the lot, however.
Will the ‘new Thierry Henry’ join West Ham or Arsenal?
The versatile forward, who has been likened to a young Thierry Henry, scored 20 times during his breakthrough season as Slavia Prague stormed to the Czech title while defeating Rangers and Leicester en route to the Europa League semi-finals.
In April, EuroSport claimed Arsenal were also interested.
And Tvrdik accepts Sima will go at some point in the near future, although the Hammers and Gunners will face an almighty battle for his signature.
“We are negotiating through his agent or directly with six candidates. Two are from the Premier League, two from France, one from Germany, one from Italy,” says Tvrdik.
“I consider his transfer very likely. When he leaves… I can’t answer that at the moment, transfers are delayed by the Euros.
“(Sima’s) departure can take place in August at the end of the transfer market. But it is almost certain he will leave Slavia.”
Tvrdik recently claimed Sima wouldn’t be sold for a penny less than £50 million, although recent reports have suggested he will now accept a reduced fee for the youngster.
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