Antonin Panenka hails impact made by Czech stars Soucek and Coufal at West Ham

The pair were part of a Hammers side that finished sixth last season, and for large parts occupied the top four places.

Soucek joined from Slavia Prague on loan in January 2020 and that deal was made permanent last summer.

The £19million fee looked like an absolute bargain as he played in every Premier League game and scored 10 goals.

Coufal also joined from Slavia Prague last summer for £5.4million and looked right at home in English football.

Czech legend Panenka, whose name is synonymous with that penalty he scored in the Euro '76 final, told talkSPORT: "I think that obviously they might get a really good name for Czech football in England. They adapted themselves really well in the Premier League.

"I think they might also have contributed to the changed style of play at West Ham United. Tomas Soucek even scored ten goals, he's good not only as a defensive midfielder but also as a striker.

"They simply opened the door for other Czech players going to the Premier League in the future."

David Moyes is reportedly targeting another Czech player this summer in Spartak Moscow midfielder Alex Kral.

When asked about other players who could be the next Premier League stars, Panenka added: "Unfortunately, I'm not a manager or player's agent, so I can't conjure up some names right now, but I do think we have plenty of talent.

"Maybe when some of them adapt their game for the British game, because the Czech game is more soft football.

"It will be up to them to work hard and change their style of play. Maybe in the near future we will witness more Czech players coming to Premier League clubs."