Tomas Soucek is ready to call it quits in North London.
According to Paul Brown on Give Me Sport, West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek is ready to call it quits at the London Stadium.
The 28-year-old is one of the Hammers’ best players and has played a key role in the club’s resurgence under David Moyes. He joined West Ham from Slavia Prague on loan in 2020 before the deal was made permanent the same year.
Soucek formed a formidable midfield pivot with former Hammers ace Declan Rice. The duo laid the foundation for two dream European runs, the latter of which ended in a UEFA Conference League triumph in 2022-23.
Rice has since moved on and Soucek looks ready to follow suit. He has started the current campaign well and already has three goals and one assist in eight games across all competitions so far. At 28, the Czech Republic international is in his prime and will have no shortage of suitors.
His £65k-a-week deal at the London Stadium was said to run until 2027, meaning the Hammers do have options when it comes to negotiations regarding a transfer. However, that does not appear to be the case as West Ham have not revealed it officially yet. This means the player could still be on his previous deal that is set to expire in 12 months.
This puts Moyes and Co in a poor spot as they risk losing the midfielder for free next summer. Unless a new contract is signed soon, the upcoming 2024 January transfer window represents West Ham’s last chance to sell the player and recoup a fee.
The player has hinted at a lack of motivation at times. Should it continue, he is better off seeking a new challenge. While West Ham will admittedly be losing a star player, it makes sense for them to bring in an able replacement who can give their all to the cause.
West Ham brought in Julian Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse this summer and have options in the middle of the park. Soucek was once considered undroppable but can be deemed expendable if they are able to bring in an able replacement. Whether it will come to pass in January or next summer is anyone’s question.
