Hammers snap up Slovak starlet

West Ham have signed goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak on loan until the end of the season from Slovakian side MSK Zilina.

The Hammers have an option to make the move for the 19-year-old permanent if he impresses at Upton Park.

Kuciak played for Slovakia at the European Under-19 Championships, and manager Alan Pardew told the club’s official website www.whufc.com: “He’s a young goalkeeper who has impressed us in training, and the deal gives us the opportunity to look at him until the end of the season.

“He’s highly rated and has played for Slovakia at youth level, but this will be a different test for him and we’ll just see what happens between now and the end of the season.”