‘I could leave in January’: Reported £11m West Ham target discusses his future

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Spartak Moscow star Alex Kral admits that he could leave the Russian giants after Vladimir Coufal confirmed West Ham United’s interest in the promising midfielder, while speaking to EuroFotbol.

We can’t help but wonder how West Ham feel about their Czech stars revealing the secrets of the club’s transfer plans to the press.

A month after Tomas Soucek admitted that the Premier League high-flyers were keeping a close eye on his former Slavia Prague teammate Abdallah Sima, right-back Coufal disclosed the identity of another target in conversation with Sport.

“We do not have a replacement for Declan (Rice) or Tomas (in central midfield) – that is a fact. I would like Alex Kral. It would be amazing if he came,” Coufal said of the £11 million enforcer, who moved from Prague to Moscow in 2019.

“(West Ham) asked about him – his character and things like that.”

Coufal added that West Ham were not yet ready to make an offer for the 16-capped midfielder.

Although with Kral suggesting that he could be tempted away from the Otkritie Arena before the February 1 deadline, maybe David Moyes’ surprise packages will firm up their interest in one of Europe’s most underrated ball-winners.

“At the moment, no one knows if I will leave in January. An awful lot (can happen) in one day,” said 22-year-old Kral.

“However, a number of factors must come together to make the transfer.

“It’s not just about desire, it also depends on how much interest there is from another club, whether there is a chance to play regularly in the new club, how much the club will be willing to pay and other things.

“I could leave in January, after the season or after the end of my contract. When I choose a new club, I will have to be very careful. Even if you think everything will be fine, it’s often like a lottery.

“If there is a real possibility, we will talk about it, but Spartak has not received any offer at the moment.”

Given the way Soucek and Coufal have adapted to English football, slotting seamlessly into a West Ham team sitting pretty in the Champions League places, Kral would be expected to emulate the impact of his former Slavia teammates at the London Stadium.