‘Talented’ £20m star set to leave West Ham as potential new club emerges

By Kyle Archer

Alex Kral is likely to leave West Ham United at the end of his loan and may join Montpellier from Spartak Moscow in the next transfer window.

That’s according to Foot Mercato, who note Kral may be a one-season wonder in east London after an underwhelming campaign. David Moyes signed the Czech Republic star last year to bolster his midfield, but he has rarely played.

Kral has featured for just 255-minutes over six games across all competitions since joining the Premier League side. The 23-year-old has also failed to feature in the top-flight outside of a stoppage-time cameo at Watford.

Moyes has named Kral on his bench in 21 Premier League games since West Ham secured a loan-to-buy transfer. But the Spartak Moscow man has so far only got onto the pitch in the 90th-minute away to Watford in December.

It is now highly unlikely West Ham purchase Kral, but a return to Russia is not his priority. Instead, a move to France could be on the cards as Montpellier are studying the 29-cap ace as they begin targeting summer transfers.

Kral to leave West Ham after loan as Montpellier consider summer transfer

Moyes told West Ham’s website he was ‘delighted’ to sign the ‘talented’ Kral in a loan-to-buy transfer last summer. But the move is yet to work out, with the Czech star admitting to Sport Express in January: “Of course it’s hard for me.

“This is a different level,” Kral added. “I think that the level of the Premier League is very different from the level of all leagues in general, if we are talking about intensity, power… There are a lot of new things for me.”

So, Kral could leave West Ham after his loan and join Montpellier from Spartak Moscow in the next transfer window. The Irons paid £3m for his temporary arrival, but are unlikely to trigger their £12m, rising to £17m, option.

Moyes, then, may need to sign two new midfielders this summer to replace Kral and Mark Noble. The 34-year-old is retiring at the end of the season, yet has held a greater role than Kral this term with 93 Premier League minutes so far.