Werder Bremen have initial bid for Czech Republic keeper rejected

Werder Bremen have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Czech Republic international goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka, Bild reports.

The 25-year-old, who is first choice keeper for Slavia Prague, has taken the Czech number one jersey from long time incumbent Petr Cech and kept 12 clean sheets to help his side to the title last season.

Pavlenka's displays attracted the interest of Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen but an offer of €1.8m has been classed as derisory, angering Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik, who stated: 

"Werder's bid for a goalkeeper of the national team of EUR 1.8 million is so absurd that we do not want to negotiate. Jiri Pavlenka has a valid contract and remains (at Slavia Prague).”

However, Werder Bremen’s sporting director Frank Baumann has refuted claims that a deal is now off the table: "This is not the state we have. If the talks were over, I would know. That's not the case."

The club’s hunt for a new keeper is understandable given that between them Felix Wiedwald and Jaroslav Drobny conspired to concede 64 league goals last season - the most in the Bundesliga.