West Ham Closing in on Tomas Soucek Signing From Slavia Prague

​Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik has revealed midfielder Tomas Soucek is on the brink of completing a move to West Ham United.

The Hammers will pay a record fee for a player from the Czech First League, having begun tracking the 24-year-old towards the end of the 2018/19 campaign. He was a standout figure during Slavia's their Europa League clash with Chelsea last April, while he has been similarly impressive in European competition this time around.

Though the Red and Whites finished bottom of the pile in Group F, they were welcome additions to the 2019/20 ​Champions League, with Jindrich Trpisovsky's side holding ​Barcelona to a draw in Catalonia after taking a point from their earlier meeting with ​Inter.

Soucek was superb throughout the pool stages as he collected two goals, but his departure has been all but confirmed by Tvrdik, who took to ​Twitter to explain the current state of affairs.

Slavia and ​West Ham have agreed a fee for the Czech star's switch to England, and he is now in London to discuss personal terms with the Irons, before undertaking a medical and putting pen to paper on the contract.

Hammers boss David Moyes has been seeking reinforcements during the January transfer window, having returned to the club in late December following a dire run of results under the sacked Manuel Pellegrini.

With this deal apparently in the bag, Moyes can switch his attentions to other targets, including Galatasaray's ​wantaway midfielder Steven Nzonzi.

While that move is still alive, West Ham look to have ​abandoned their pursuit of CSKA Moscow's Fyodor Chalov, deeming the striker's asking-price to be extortionate.

Belgian outfit Genk have braced themselves as the Irons consider making a bid for up-and-coming midfielder Sander Berge, though they'll face competition from ​Sheffield United after the Blades has an ​offer rejected during the final week of the transfer window.

For more from Ed Alexander, follow him on Twitter