At the end of the season, football West Ham is aiming for victory in the European League and is again trying to place in the top third of the English Premier League table. However, according to a number of indications, the dramatic fight also takes place behind the scenes of the East London club. Manager David Moyes is in danger of leaving support.
In recent days, the English media have questioned the future of Tomáš Souček in the Hammers jersey. It is written about the tension between the Czech midfielder and manager David Moyes, which is due to different views on increasing the salary conditions of the planned new contract.
The first attempt to extend the existing contract valid until the summer of 2024, which took place in January, failed.
The second round of negotiations is planned for the season, and the insider blog Claret and Hugh, for example, predicts that it will be difficult and tough.
“In the first phase, Moyes offered Souček only a minimal increase. This created a certain tension between the player and the manager, as Moyes does not think that Souček’s current performance would justify a sharp increase in wages,” the website wrote, quoting a source close to the club.
According to him, Souček is aware of the problem and it will be very interesting to watch what happens if the Czech midfielder receives offers from other clubs, especially from the Premier League.
Although Souček is lagging behind his great performances from last year, he is less significant in the forward direction, he scores fewer goals. However, even according to independent experts and fans, the change in tactics is the main reason.
Moyes no longer lets Součka forward so much and often prefers a greater offensive involvement of Chekhov’s central partner and captain Declan Rice.
Despite the lower number of goals, the 26-year-old native of Havlíčkův Brod is still an indispensable part of the Hammers.
Moyes obviously has an unwavering trust in him, he can’t imagine the group without him. Součka does not spare, he does not spare and recently in an interview with the renowned The Athletic he again emphasized how key characters Souček and his compatriot Vladimír Coufal were for the current renaissance of the club, which made West Ham one of the hungriest and best physically disposable teams in England today.
“We have a much better mentality now. And I must say that the change was started by two Czech boys. They brought something sensational, honestly, we had to start locking the premises so that they could not be here at night. Even players who were good professionals became even better, “Moyes praised.
But finances are a sensitive issue in West Ham, especially after the February case of stopper Kurt Zouma.
The French reinforcement from Chelsea was fined 250 thousand pounds from the club for suffering his cat. It was supposed to be two weeks’ salaries, so the public was informed that Zouma was the team’s best paid player.
The English media reported that the amount of his salary “infuriated” some of his teammates.
After all, the stellar Rice receives only half, 62 thousand pounds, and so far he is reluctant to sign a new contract. Jarrod Bowen, another personality, takes 80 thousand a week and forward Mikhail Antonio after signing a new contract about 100 thousand pounds.
The salary of Czech players in West Ham is estimated at approximately £ 50,000 a week for Tomáš Souček, £ 27,000 for Vladimír Coufal and £ 3,000 less for Alex Král.
Magazine 90min. also cited “sources close to the club”. He wrote that Souček is very popular in the cabin, valued and several teammates do not understand the club’s laziness in improving his contract.
Most of the fans, who, after the autumn arrival of the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský in the ownership structure of the club, promised to strengthen the staff and financial injections just to maintain support, see it similarly.
Although Zouma has become a dream reinforcement, it is also a famous trigger that legitimizes the demands of other players for much more money. Moyes will now have to reluctantly raise wages if he doesn’t want to lose them. Powerful and rich people are already circling around.
For example, the richest of them, Newcastle, who has been revived by controversial Saudi billions, will want to take another step among the most ambitious clubs in the Premier League after a comfortable rescue of a tragically run season.
He is especially fond of Bowen, but it would come as no surprise if The Magpies were one of the two mentioned and still secret English candidates for Souček’s services.
“Souček is undoubtedly arousing interest, at least two Premier League clubs are considering the offer. However, it is still possible that the Czech footballer will extend the contract in West Ham.
Starting position before negotiating new contracts can significantly transform West Ham’s success in the European League, in which they are already in the semifinals. If the Hammers were to win the whole competition, they would qualify directly for the basic group of the lucrative Champions League.
