West Ham United have three Czech Republic nationals in their squad and it would have been four, had the Hammers managed to sign Antonín Barák in the summer.
David Moyes’ side looked at the midfielder and they continue to keep an eye on him. That’s according to L’Arena, via Tutto Hellas Verona, who add Newcastle United have now joined the chase.
Initially joining Hellas Verona on loan from Udinese in 2020, his stay at the club was made permanent in the summer, after the 26-year-old scored seven goals and added four assists last season. This term, he has four goals and an assist to his name in 11 league matches.
The Czech Republic international’s performances have ‘attracted the attention of some of the Premier League clubs’. Only West Ham and Newcastle United are named, with more focus on the latter, since the Magpies are planning to take the next step.
Newcastle are now backed by billions and the report states the club are ‘willing to put over €25m on the table’ for Barák. They’ve already sent officials to compile reports on the midfielder, and have presumably been impressed.
Hellas Verona will have a tough call to make, should Newcastle make a proposal in excess of €25m for the player.