West Ham set to reward five players with new contracts
By Alex Smith
At this time of the year, much attention is focused on which players could join West Ham, but the club have been working on keeping members of the current squad part of the team.
Recently, Michail Antonio signed a new long-term contract and another five players are set to follow suit with renewed or improved deals.
According to reliable source, @ExWHUemployee, talks have begun with a number of players with deals expected to be complete soon.
West Ham are set to hand five players, including Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek new and improved contracts to reflect their bigger status at the club.
Initial talks have begun with Jarrod Bowen about an improved contract. The likes of Liverpool are keen on him and although West Ham have no intention of selling the 25-year-old offering him a better deal on more money is likely to help persuade him to stay. He is fully deserving of the new deal too, he is adored by the fans and his on fire form earned Bowen a Premier League player of the month nomination and potential England call-up.
Additionally, an improved deal is expected to be given to Tomas Soucek. The Czech midfielder was Hammer of the Year winner last season and despite not scoring as much this campaign his performances in his now more defensive minded role are under-appreciated by some fans. He is nearly never out the starting XI and he was a big miss in the recent defeat to Leeds highlighting his importance. Soucek is vital to West Ham and with potentially bigger clubs interested; tying down one of David Moyes’ favourite players is a smart move.
22-year-old full-back, Ben Johnson, is really making a name for himself this season. His ability to play either flank has been vital while Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Arthur Masuaku have all had spells on the sideline. Johnson’s current contract expires in six months but he has the option of a two year extension. West Ham want to reward him with an entirely new deal with both sides of the negotiating table happy to commit.