West Ham to reject exclusive deal to sign Czech ace Adam Hlozek despite Kretinsky gesture
West Ham are reportedly going to turn down the chance to sign Sparta Prague wonderkid Adam Hlozek despite being offered a favourable deal by Daniel Kretinsky.
West Ham will reportedly be offered the chance to sign Hlozek on a loan deal this summer. The offer is expected to come to fruition after billionaire investor Daniel Kretinsky (who owns 27 percent of West ham) personally proposed a deal.
Kretinsky is also the president of Czech Republic-based club Sparta Prague, which is where Hlozek currently plies his trade.
This is based on a report from 90min who say that David Moyes and his head of recruitment, Rob Newman, want to look at other options before making a deal for the 19-year-old.
Hlozek has been ever-present in the Sparta Prague team since he was the youngest ever player to debut for the side at the age of 16.
Despite his tender age, Hlozek already has well over 100 senior appearances to his name and has bagged 39 goals in all competitions. He is also a regular in the Czech Republic national team, making 12 appearances already.
During the 2020/21 season, Hlozek played 23 times in all competitions and scored 15 goals. Even factoring in the comparatively lower quality of the Czech league, those are eye-catching figures.
West Ham’s lack of enthusiasm in signing Hlozek could reportedly result in them losing out on a deal to another club. Some of Europe’s biggest sides such as Liverpool, Juventus and Bayern Munich have all been linked with acquiring the wonderkid.
Although Hlozek is mainly deployed as a winger, he has been known to play centrally which would suit the Hammers’ needs. The strain on Michail Antonio being the club’s only centre-forward would be somewhat lessened by his arrival.
Hlozek’s season in numbers
The forward has a lot of promise and has showcased a level of ability you would usually expect to see in players beyond his years.
When comparing both Hlozek’s and fan favourite Jarrod Bowen’s stats, the numbers are closer than you’d think.
According to WhoScored, Hlozek attempts 1.3 shots, 2.9 dribbles and 0.9 key passes per game. By contrast, Bowen averages 2.1 shots, 2.5 dribbles and 1.0 key passes per game.
How Hlozek would’ve fit Moyes’ team
West Ham often operate in a 4-2-3-1 system which would allow Hlozek to interchange between positions.
He would also bolster the depth in their forward department and reduce the strain on Antonio.
He would also be able to fit well into the group as he plays alongside both Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal internationally.
The pair have both reportedly recommended the 19-year-old to Moyes, though it seems the Scot is not so keen.
West Ham’s apparent decision to snub a deal is surprising on paper. An initial loan deal would represent little risk to the club and the Hammers are destined for another European campaign next year.
Adequate strength in depth will be required to ensure they can compete on two fronts. Even if Hlozek wasn’t afforded as many minutes as he gets in Prague, he may still have been a canny addition to the squad.
What’s more, the high standard of clubs monitoring Hlozek’s progress would suggest West Ham may regret turning their nose up at Kretinsky’s offer. Clearly, Hlozek is a man destined for big things.