West Ham panic stations as Premier League rivals 'make offer' for Graham Potter favourite - opinion

West Ham manager Graham Potter should be at panic stations after reports this week that Everton have already made an offer to sign Tomas Soucek this summer.

Everton boss David Moyes is known to be a fan of the player, who he knows well thanks to his time at the London Stadium. The Toffees manager is set for a rebuild on Merseyside this summer as the club moves into its new stadium and prepares for the Scotsman’s first full season back in charge.

Reliability and stability will be the key for Moyes’ Everton team and, with defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye out of contact and yet to sign a new deal, interest in Soucek makes perfect sense. The Czech international is an experienced Premier League midfield linchpin who could fill that hole.

David Moyes plotting Tomas Soucek transfer swoop

Moyes has also been rumoured to be ready to come knocking at West Ham’s door to bring Vladimir Coufal to Everton on a free transfer come the end of his deal, but Claret & Hugh claims that it is indeed Soucek who is a number one priority. The outlet quotes a source who said: “There is an offer from Everton for Soucek, but it’s not just driven by David Moyes. He will not have full control of transfers next season, and I’ve not heard of any offer for Coufal.”

That would be nothing short of a nightmare situation for West Ham. While Soucek does not boast the explosive impact of Jarrod Bowen or Mohammed Kudus, his knowhow will continue to be of paramount importance as Potter looks to build a Hammers side in his design.

The former Brighton and Chelsea boss is known to be moving towards a younger side with a focus on the academy. That’s good news but such a model requires more experienced players to help embed them into the side. With 239 club appearances, Soucek is the ideal man for that.

The player, who is under contract until 2027, still has plenty to offer on the pitch too. The 30-year-old has racked up nearly 2,400 minutes of football this season with seven top flight goals, including finishes against Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Everton.

Graham Potter on ‘dream’ Hammers midfielder

Potter is all too aware of the importance of Soucek too. The West Ham manager has admitted that he tried to sign the midfielder while at Brighton. Soucek instead made the move from Slavia Prague to West Ham on an initial loan in January 2020, which became a permanent £19 million deal that summer.

Speaking about the player, Potter said: “He gives his best every single day, and gives his best in the games. He’s a dream in that regard.

“We actually tried to sign him at Brighton, so I know him well. I think he's been great. The five years he's been here have been a real success for him personally. He can help you in both boxes.

“His quality is incredible at that. He covers the ground, plays the role the team needs, has played as the defensive one, has played as the attacking one. He's adaptable in that midfield position. He’s been fantastic to work with.”

West Ham star’s affinity for Everton manager

Potter must continue to sweet talk Soucek and assure him of his importance at the London Stadium because one thing is for sure - the midfielder has a lot of love for Moyes. Speaking as the former West Ham manager left the club, Soucek said: “The boss has been here for four-and-a-half, nearly five years, and he’s improved this Club to another level. We’ve finished in great positions, we’ve won a cup, even this season we can finish in the top half and have reached a European quarter-final.

"I scored this important goal for our fans, but most importantly for the manager because it’s his last game at home. I’m so happy for him. We have to thank him for what he’s done and now we are happy to celebrate with the supporters."

In other news, West Ham ready to battle Fulham for defender with bargain £9m release clause.