West Ham United rejected an offer to sign Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek on Deadline Day as David Moyes loaned Alex Kral from Spartak Moscow, per talkSPORT.
The Hammers added another Czech Republic international to the London Stadium ranks with Kral joining on a season-long deal. His move features a £12m option to purchase the 23-year-old next summer that could rise to £17m with bonuses, football.london report.
West Ham’s £3m loan deal with Spartak Moscow will also become an obligation to buy if Kral starts a set number of fixtures. His arrival followed earlier transfers for Nikola Vlasic and Kurt Zouma, plus Alphonse Areola, and Loftus-Cheek could have joined, as well.
But West Ham turned down a chance to sign Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea as Moyes opted for Kral instead. The Irons’ decision has now left the 25-year-old in limbo at Stamford Bridge. Thomas Tuchel was already unlikely to call on the Blues product to feature regular, and added Saul Niguez to his packed ranks on loan from Atletico Madrid on Deadline Day.
Loftus-Cheek knew his chances would likely be limited if he remained in west London past Tuesday’s deadline for transfers. And the Express reported the £60,000-per-week ace was open to leaving Chelsea, either permanently or on loan.
Premier League and Serie A sides had expressed their interest in signing Loftus-Cheek, but no moves eventually materialised. The 10-cap England international will now have to try and show Tuchel he fits in the German’s desired 3-4-2-1 system.
Should West Ham have signed Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea?
Kral joining West Ham on Deadline Day means Moyes now has four natural central midfield options available to call on. Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice will likely maintain the starting roles, but with additional support beyond veteran captain Mark Noble. Manuel Lanzini has also shown he is capable of occupying a deep-lying role at the London Stadium this year.
So, Moyes did not necessarily need to accept the offer for West Ham to sign Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea, as well. Especially as the London-born ace endured a mixed loan with Fulham last term. He scored once and did not assist in 33 games in all competitions.
Yet, Scott Parker praised Loftus-Cheek while still in charge at Craven Cottage, nonetheless. “He had been out for an extremely long time and had not played a lot of football,” the now-Bournemouth boss said, via the Daily Mail. “I’ve just seen someone grow, grow and grow into the player who we’ve all seen. There’s still loads to come.
“But this is a player at this moment in time who, given moments in games, can take the game by the scruff of the neck and be that powerful, technically-gifted midfield player.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
