West Ham see Tomas Soucek contract talks stall amid departure talk

Contract negotiations between West Ham and Tomas Soucek are stalling.

Discussions are still ongoing but it is not going well at the moment according to reliable source @ExWHUemployee.

His current deal does not expire until 2024 (with the option for a further year extension) but West Ham were keen to reward him with an improved contract valuing his prominent role in this successful squad.

West Ham are continuing contract talks with Tomas Soucek but things aren’t progressing fuelling rumours over a potential summer departure.

There has been rumours within the last few weeks that the Hammers would consider selling the 27-year-old if a sizeable bid was too come in.

However, more recently it has been reported that West Ham boss David Moyes does want to keep hold of Soucek next season and any suggestions of the pair having a falling out are wide of the mark.

It is currently not clear as to why contract talks are not progressing. With rumours surrounding the arrival of another top quality central midfielder it may put his place in the team at risk, could that make him reluctant to commit his future? Is it money? Does he fancy taking up a new challenge at another club?

Soucek arrived in January 2020, initially on a loan deal. He played a vital role in keeping the Irons in the Premier League during the pandemic influenced campaign alongside fellow winter signing Jarrod Bowen.

He made the transfer permanent that summer and became one of the first names on the teamsheet last season forming a fantastic midfield partnership with Declan Rice. The Czech international netted ten goals and won the Hammer of the Year award at the end of 2021/22 season.

He remained a vital man in the side in the season just finished featuring 51 times. His goalscoring did take a decline only finding the back of the net on six ocassions.

As Rice’s attacking and ball carrying qualities became more important in West Ham’s build-up Soucek was tasked with becoming the sitter of the two. His defensive qualities such as his tough tackling and strength as well as the aerial threat he provides in both boxes have still been apparent but he has given the ball away too much at times.

West Ham have tried to build out from the back more and play through the lines and Soucek’s uncertainty and lack of techinque on the ball has been exposed.