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West Ham are keeping tabs on Hellas Verona midfielder Antonin Barak, as David Moyes looks to strengthen his squad during the summer transfer window.
Antonin Barak, 26, spent the last season on loan at Hellas Verona from Udinese, racking up seven goals and three assists in 34 Serie A appearances. Hellas Verona turned his loan deal permanently after playing a key role in the club’s top-half finish in the Serie A under manager Eusebio Di Francesco.
The 26-year-old midfielder is now currently part of the Czech Republic side playing in the European Championships. He played the full 90 minutes in the Czech Republic’s 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the Round of 16, thereby helping his team book a quarter-final clash with Denmark on Saturday.
Hellas Verona don’t intend to sell Barak but after the player’s impressive performances in Euro 2020, they will sell him for the right price this summer. Serie A duo Napoli and Inter Milan and Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt are also interested in Barak, but West Ham apparently hold an advantage due to their stars Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal currently sharing the Czech dressing room with him.
West Ham must prioritise signing a striker
After a successful campaign that saw West Ham qualify for European football, David Moyes deserves complete backing in the transfer market.
Moyes has done an excellent job at the London Stadium, transforming the club’s fortunes from being relegation fodder to a top-six Premier League club. Having signed a new deal with West Ham, the Scotsman is now fully focused on strengthening his squad.
West Ham certainly need a new striker after selling Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January. Relying on Michail Antonio to shoulder the responsibility of leading the club’s attack for an entire season will be a big gamble that Moyes should avoid. Thus, the Hammers boss must prioritise bringing in a new striker before moving on to address other positions in his squad.
The Hammers must also add a creative midfielder to their ranks
Jesse Lingard returned to Manchester United after a sensational six-month loan spell that propelled West Ham to a sixth-placed finish on the table. The English midfielder instantly impacted West Ham, combining brilliantly with the likes of Michail Antonio, Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen in the Hammers attack.
Moyes has openly expressed his desire to bring Lingard back to West Ham, but this time on a permanent deal. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Manchester United are willing to sanction his sale this summer.
Lingard’s exit has left a huge void in West Ham’s starting XI, and should the east Londoners fail to sign him again, they must definitely replace the Manchester United star with a quality player.
Antonin Barak could be a smart signing for West Ham
Antonin Barak has starred for the Czech Republic in the Euro 2020, demonstrating his ability to deliver at one of the biggest Sporting events.
An attacking midfielder by trade, his versatility to play in multiple midfield roles or in wide areas should be a boon for Moyes. The Czech Republic international would bring creativity and energy to West Ham, and his performances in Serie A last season and currently in the European Championships suggest he has the qualities to impress in the Premier League.
A move for Barak would depend on West Ham’s finances. However, should the Hammers be able to beat the potential competition and complete a move for the 26-year-old midfielder, it’ll represent a smart signing.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
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