West Ham sign Tomas Soucek as they aim to avoid relegation and financial disaster

West Ham have signed Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Soucek from Slavia Prague, for a reported fee of £13 million (Dh62m), as they make a desperate bid to strengthen their squad to avoid relegation and its resultant financial disaster.

Following the signing, manager David Moyes said: "I think he gives us a lot of different aspects but more importantly he fits the profile of the player I want to bring to West Ham.

"I said I want to bring young players but we also need experience too and I think at the moment, he helps with both of those. He's captain of Slavia Prague, he's played defensive midfield but scored a lot of goals as an attacking midfielder too. We needed a bit of it all, some cover, another midfield player, obviously goals, so at the moment he ticks a lot of boxes."

Moyes also revealed a bid is in for another player, with RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen a reported target.

The Hammers are desperate to strengthen their squad before Friday's deadline, especially after the club's financial report on Tuesday warned of dire consequences in case of relegation.

The Hammers made a pre-tax loss of £28.2m in the last financial year, and joint-owner David Sullivan said staying in the Premier League was "an absolute necessity for the future well being of the club".

A club statement said: "The board is committed to ensuring that this great club has a strong and stable foundation to build upon.

"As custodians of West Ham United, the board will continue to manage the club in a responsible and sustainable manner and will continue to work hard for supporters."

West Ham are currently above the relegation zone on goal difference, and a heavy defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday would see them slip into danger.

But Moyes remains confident he can guide the team out of trouble. "There are parallels to my last spell here," he added. "We've quite a similar points tally, we have been here before and done it before, some of the players too. But we need to pick up points, we are not kidding ourselves."

"There are a lot of teams scrapping it out but I do believe we can do it. If we can add to the squad a little bit then hopefully it'll help."

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and midfielder Robert Snodgrass should be fit to face the Reds after missing Saturday's FA Cup defeat to West Brom.

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