Tomas Soucek to West Ham is a damn good start to saving this team

West Ham have wrapped up their second signing of the January transfer window with direly needed defensive midfielder Tomas Soucek from Slavia Prague. He could be a transformative addition – here’s why!

The signing of Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek is big news for David Moyes’ West Ham team. While he isn’t the only player needed in this transfer window, Soucek plays a box-to-box style defensive midfield position and promises defensive stability along with offensive output from the midfield.

The Czech Republic midfielder has 25 senior team caps for his country and has scored three goals over that stretch of games. As a defensive midfielder, you’d expect the player to be a deeper sitting player that prioritizes covering back over pressing forward. That is absolutely not the case with Soucek.

A quick YouTube search of Soucek’s goals and assists over the past three seasons will highlight one major aspect of his style of play – this player loves to get forward in the opposition’s box. Hence the title of box-to-box previously laid upon him.

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So far this season, Soucek has 12 goals and three assists in 25 matches across league play, Cup action, and Champions League matches – not too shabby, eh? This isn’t a one-off either, with the player netting 18 goals and nine assists last season (49 matches) as well.

Brought in for a fee believed to be around €18m (€4 for a loan and the best being paid if the team stays up), it’s clear the fan pressure pushed the board to act quickly on the lack of midfield depth. While a terrific start, Soucek is not the only player needed this window. Another midfielder is needed, another striker option as well, and a right-back with pace at a minimum.

As for the “transformative” claim, Soucek is the exact type of player West Ham supporters have been calling out for as a partner for Declan Rice since his move to the defensive midfield. Rice is much more of a stay at home player than Soucek and balances him out perfectly in a central defensive midfield partnership.

As well, Soucek would allow for Moyes to play his 3-5-2 formation with a lot more ease. This is due to his box-to-box abilities, being more of an offensive presence in support, while also covering back as defensive support. One Prague supporter described him has “a robot who doesn’t stop running” which will be music to Moyes’ ears.

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He’s young (24 years old), he fits the club’s need, the deal was conducted swiftly, and the squad gets an added boost immediately. Soucek could have a massive positive effect on West Ham but he too needs reinforcements this month!