Daily Star journalist Paul Brown insists that West Ham United remain confident on an improved deal for Tomas Soucek despite talks being put on hold until the end of the season.
THE LOWDOWN: IMPROVED DEAL
Soucek is under contract at the London Stadium until 2024 and currently earns £47k-per-week and although the Hammers wished to tie down the midfielder to a new deal, 90min announced earlier this month that those plans have been shelved until the summer.
However, the report suggests that there is a willingness on both sides for the Czech Republic international to commit his long-term future to the east London club.
West Ham first-team coach Stuart Pearce has insisted before that Soucek is “going nowhere” this summer and is “very happy’ at the London Stadium and Brown seems to hold the same view.
THE LATEST: WHAT BROWN HAS SAID
The journalist is of the notion that those at Rush Green aren’t sweating despite talks being stalled and remains adamant that David Moyes will look to secure his signature given the uncertain future of midfield partner Declan Rice.
He told GIVEMESPORT:
“The club are very relaxed about it. They don’t seem to think there’s any prospect of him refusing and trying to go elsewhere.
“There’s obviously the question marks still over Declan Rice and there’s no way West Ham could afford to let both first-choice midfielders to leave in the same window. Whether they actually get a decent offer for Rice or not, they feel they could accept his future is up in the air anyway.
“I think all parties are basically being sensible at the moment and just seeing where they end up before agreeing [on] the figures. I don’t think it’s likely that he leaves.”
THE VERDICT: MATTER OF TIME
It doesn’t seem like a situation where fans of the club would need to panic especially considering that his current contract still has two years to run.
The 6 foot 4 colossus, dubbed a “man-mountain” by Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards, has played 94% of the club’s overall Premier League minutes this season and has formed a formidable and an “absolutely brilliant” partnership with Declan Rice in the engine room.
Although he hasn’t been able to match his fine goalscoring form of last season he grabbed his sixth goal of the campaign with the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Burnley last weekend.
The £40.5m-rated warrior has often been seen sporting bandages around his head and bearing cuts above his eyes and his commitment to the team saw him scoop the 2020/21 Hammer of the Year award.
His wholesome celebrations with the supporters after a 3-2 win over Chelsea in December would seem to suggest that he is enjoying his time in east London and has no plans to move on.
