Sparta Prague have distanced themselves from speculation linking centre-back David Hancko with a move to Premier League giants West Ham United in the final few days of the January transfer window, as reported by iSport.
it is nearly two months now since David Moyes went public with his desire to bring a new defender to the London Stadium (The Mail).
Links with James Tarkowski, Malang Sarr, Nat Phillips and co have come and gone.
And, with the February deadline looming large, there is a very real possibility that West Ham will have to soldier on without reinforcements.
David Hancko, a 24-year-old Slovakia international, was the latest in a long line of central defenders to mentioned as a potential West Ham signing earlier this week.
But with Sparta Prague playing catch-up in an enthralling title race – sitting three points adrift of city rivals Slavia – it is hardly the ideal time to cash in on one of Pavel Vrba’s star players.
Will West Ham sign a new defender this month?
“During the winter, Sparta will not sell anyone at all,” a source tells iSport.
One would assume that also applies to Adam Hlozek, the 19-year-old wonderkid who has spent the best part of 12 months being linked with a big-money move to the London Stadium.
The £21 million-rated Hlozek is also on the radar of a Borussia Dortmund side scouring the market for a striker capable of stepping into Erling Braut Haaland’s sizeable shoes.
West Ham have made a habit of signing players from the Czech capital of late.
Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal have thrived in claret-and-blue since their arrivals in 2020. Former Sparta Prague ace Alex Kral joined them at the London Stadium last summer.
One suspects, following their takeover by Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky, West Ham will return to a familiar hunting ground before long.
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