Tottenham and West Ham must hold David Moyes to £41m Everton ransom - opinion

Everton manager David Moyes appears to be plotting a summer of shrewd and relatively risk-free transfer moves. That’s great for the Toffees, but Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham must hold the Scotsman for ransom should he come calling.

Moyes has brought stability to the blue half of Merseyside since returning to the club in January and will oversee the transition into the new Everton Stadium. The Toffees are now 15th in the league having beaten Spurs, Brighton, Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in the league under Moyes.

Attention across the Premier League is now turning towards the summer and Everton have been linked with moves for West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and, according to GiveMeSport, Spurs forward Richarlison. On paper, those names may not be the most glamorous, but they look to be clever moments of opportunism.

Everton linked with West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur transfers

Both the Hammers and Spurs have endured a dismal season from start to finish in the Premier League and need to invest this summer. Graham Potter’s side lacks character while Ange Postecoglou has struggled with injuries this term.

To invest, those London sides are expected to need to sell. The Telegraph has reported that Tottenham Hotspur must ‘sell to buy’ this summer and Sean Whetstone has claimed that West Ham could be in a ‘dire financial situation’ come the end of the campaign.

That predicament has added substance to links with Soucek and Richarlison. Football Insider claim that West Ham could sell their midfield stalwart Soucek for £10 - £15 million with former Brentford and Leicester City boss Martin Allen putting a £15 million price tag on the Spurs striker.

At first glance, those fees could make sense, and not only because the clubs need cash. Soucek is 30 years old and in the last two years of his contract with Potter wanting a younger squad. Across London, Richarlison has struggled with injuries and largely played second fiddle to Dominic Solanke.

However, it cannot be underestimated how good those two signings would be for Everton. Soucek flourished under Moyes at West Ham and his bags of Premier League experience would make him a vital cog in the Moysey machine at the Everton Stadium. What’s more, with Idrissa Gana Gueye out of contract, the Toffees are under pressure to recruit in that position.

David Moyes must pay up for Tomas Soucek and Richarlison

For Richarlison, while he hasn’t set north London alight, he’s a proven goalscorer. The Brazilian has four goals in 405 top flight minutes this term and bagged 53 times for Everton in 153 appearances. He would surely be more prolific back as a big finish in a smaller pond among the Toffees squad and still holds a cult hero status on Merseyside.

As such, West Ham and Spurs should think twice about those reported fees. The Hammers should at least be looking at the higher end of £15 million to sanction a Soucek exit, while £15 million would be nothing short of a joke price for Richarlison.

Tottenham Hotspur paid £60 million for the player in 2022 and there’s not much to suggest he’s significantly worse now than he was back then. Everton forked out £26 million to sign Beto from Udinese in 2023, and a figure around that mark would seem a fairer price.

In other news, Ex West Ham and Wolves boss lands new job after Man Utd links.