West Ham United have been strongly linked with Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek, who is valued at around €25 million.
The Hammers are supposedly looking at an initial six-month loan with an option to buy at the end of the season, and could land the midfielder for half his value. Soucek has been in excellent form this season, scoring eight goals from 17 league appearances, and twice in eight games in the Champions League as well. West Ham are in desperate need of reinforcements in midfield, and could do worse than Soucek. Declan Rice has had a very poor campaign, but a lack of alternatives has allowed him to keep his place in the team. The same can be said for club captain Mark Noble, who does not even have the argument of youth on his side at 32 years of age. Jack Wilshere has spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch, as usual, and Carlos Sanchez was a baffling signing who remains out of favour.
Soucek, 24, has been consistent for Slavia Prague since he joined from Slovan Liberec in 2017. He’s also managed to earn 25 caps for the Czech Republic, while his eye for goal can be seen from the fact that he scored 18 goals from 49 appearances last season despite being a defensive midfielder. He also bagged 9 assists, thus demonstrating creativity and a goal threat from midfield, both of which West Ham sorely lack right now.
His age, style of play and goalscoring record mean that West Ham should look to snap him up this month as soon as possible. Soucek would go a long way towards easing the Hammers’ issues in midfield, and David Moyes’ should be on the phone to his superiors, demanding the Czech’s arrival at the London Stadium.
