Report: West Ham begin talks with 'Hammer of the Year' winner over a new four-year-contract

By Jordan Camp

West Ham have opened talks with Tomas Soucek over a new four-year contract, according to The Mail Online.

The Czech midfielder joined the Hammers in January 2020, initially on loan until the end of the season. However, his move was made permanent once West Ham’s Premier League status was confirmed.

His current deal runs until 2024, but the Hammers hierarchy are keen to tie him down to a deal through to 2026.

Soucek was relatively unknown when he signed for the Hammers, but he has been nothing short of a revelation in midfield. His relationship with Declan Rice has been key to their change in fortune from relegation-threatened to European candidates.

West Ham are in desperate need of new recruits if they are to progress further. However, it is equally important they keep hold of their star men already in the building.

Reports suggest that Manchester United and PSG are interested in acquiring the services of Soucek. While Rice is constantly being linked with a move away from West Ham.

Michail Antonio and Vladimir Coufal have already extended their stays in East London this season. It is also expected that Lukasz Fabianski will sign a new one-year deal, and that the club will trigger the two-year extension in Ben Johnson’s contract.

Soucek has made 83 appearances in all competitions since joining West Ham from Slavia Prague, missing only two this season due to testing positive for COVID-19.

He has scored 16 goals, including an impressive 10-goal haul last season where he tied with Antonio as West Ham’s top goalscorer. The awards didn’t stop there, Soucek was also voted as ‘Hammer of the Year’ by the fans in his first full season at the club. An award that was won by Rice 12 months earlier.