Tomas Soucek’s exploits for West Ham and the Czech Republic have reportedly seen rapturous glances from Manchester United, but Hammers coach Stuart Pearce says the midfielder is not going anywhere in uniform.
Soucek is happy in London (West Ham)
The 26-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding 2020-21 campaign in the Premier League, with nine goals recorded across 29 appearances for David Moyes’ European outfit. The first international hat-trick was also introduced in 2022 in the World Cup qualifier, allowing Soucek’s stock to continue to rise and more transfer speculation to rage around it. Pearce tried to quash the rumors before they got out of hand, telling Soucek, “No, he’s happy here and he’s not going anywhere, that’s for sure. “He was brilliant here I have to say. Dave brought him to the club last January and he’s been brilliant since then. He has a great attitude to work, on the days when he comes to work, he is just very happy to work. As a man he is of the highest quality. He and Vladimir Coufal, two Czech boys, were both brilliant. And Tomas can be a handful too. England will face the Czech Republic in the Euro 2020 group stages and his ability in both boxes is very, very good.”
Tomas was suggested by Moyes
Moyes originally entered into a loan agreement with Slavia Prague, but has seen enough up to 13 performances to suggest Soucek is worth keeping around. West Ham subsequently lasted in a permanent deal, and now significant value has been found in the transfer, which cost around £19 million ($26 million). Breaking gold with Soucek in January 2020, the Hammers repeated the trick of the year in bouncing Jesse Lingard from Manchester United. He’s another one who has arrived at London Stadium on a short-term loan agreement, but Moyes is expected to look to push through another deal in the summer for the player who made him return to England. Pearce added to the 28-year-old playmaker who has recorded five goals and two assists for West Ham: I’m thrilled that Jesse is back on the England squad.