"West Ham would really regret..." - Journalist drops major verdict involving £40.5m-rated star

West Ham would regret selling Tomas Soucek this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 48-cap Czech Republic international has been a key player for the Hammers over the best part of three seasons, but the £40.5m-rated midfielder and the club have hit an impasse over contract talks.

Soucek still has two years remaining on the four-year deal he penned when he arrived from Slavia Prague in July 2020, but the two parties have held discussions over rewarding the 27-year-old with fresh terms.

The experienced midfielder, who earns around £67,000 per-week, wants a pay rise, although the Guardian believe that talks over a wage increase have recently stalled, with 90min reporting that Moyes didn’t feel like Soucek has warranted a new contract following his dip in form last season.

In 2020-2021, Soucek’s first full campaign in English football, he scored 10 goals from midfield to help West Ham qualify for Europe.

But he managed just half that amount last term, although his workload was increased following the club’s run to the Europa League semi-finals, which saw him feature 51 times in all competitions.

Despite a relatively quieter season by his previous high standards, Soucek has formed an excellent partnership alongside Declan Rice in midfield, with those two at the heart of West Ham’s upturn in fortunes since Covid-19.

Therefore, O’Rourke reckons the club might regret losing him should he decide to seek pastures new.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think West Ham would really regret losing someone like Tomas Soucek. He’s been a great player for West Ham under David Moyes.

“He’s a key player in that midfield alongside Declan Rice. He’s effective in both boxes, he can score goals from set pieces as well.”

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