In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Premier League striker Darren Bent urged West Ham United to activate Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek’s purchase clause following his impressive loan spell at the London Stadium so far. When asked about whether the Hammers should trigger the Czech Republic international’s purchase clause, Bent said (via Football Insider),
“Yeah, I do. I like him – it was harsh on him with the first goal against Chelsea.
“It’s a great bit of business – he put the effort in and I think that’s what they need right now West Ham – they don’t need world beaters or these flair players who have got more flair than heart.
“When you’ve got players like Soucek who are working hard and making it difficult for the opposition – it might not be nice to watch at times but it’s all about staying in the league at the minute and if they can do that, then he’s perfect for David Moyes.”
Soucek’s Productive Loan Spell At The English Capital
The 25-year-old has made a solid start to life in the Premier League after producing a series of eye-catching performances at the heart of David Moyes’ midfield. Since joining on loan from Slavia Prague back in January, he has participated in seven matches for the East London outfit this term, scoring one league goal in the process.
Soucek has made a positive impact for West Ham at the centre of the park based on his average of 2.1 tackles, 2.3 interceptions, 2.7 clearances, 0.7 shots and 0.7 long balls per game in the Premier League this season. However, he has been quite wasteful when distributing the ball after completing only 63.2% of his attempted passes in English football so far (stats via whoscored).
What Does The Czech Republic International Offer On The Pitch?
Soucek is a tireless worker in midfield as he is always willing to chase the ball down and make life uncomfortable for the opposition. He excels at making well-timed tackles that allow him to earn possession back for his team. The 25-time Czech Republic international is often quick to read the danger and can pull off some vital last-ditch clearances at the back as well. At 25, Soucek is currently playing at his prime which West Ham could look to benefit from in the coming seasons.
Should The Hammers Retain Soucek’s Services Beyond This Summer?
The Slavia Prague midfield ace has been a useful asset at David Moyes’ disposal in the second half of this Premier League campaign. Soucek has shown some glimpses of how valuable he can be for the Hammers over the past few weeks. He probably had his best game in a West Ham shirt in midweek when he played an instrumental role behind his team’s excellent 3-2 win over Chelsea in the London derby.
If Soucek can continue to perform at a high level in the final few matches of this campaign, then Moyes should strongly consider retaining his services for the long-run as he has all the attributes required to be a success story at the London Stadium.
