West Ham United burned off Serie A competition to sign Alex Kral.

The Hammers swooped for the Spartak Moscow midfielder on deadline day yesterday.

Spartak chief Evgeny Melezhikov, when announcing Kral's departure, revealed West Ham saw off stiff competition for the Czech Republic international.

Melezhikov says Sassuolo and Atalanta had also been in contact.

But West Ham's superior offer clinched the deal in their favour.