Like many members of the current West Ham first team, Czech international Tomas Soucek’s future appears to not be entirely clear. A fan favourite, a consistent goalscorer, in recent months there has been suggestions Hammers boss Graham Potter would be open to selling the midfielder for the right price.

Soucek arrived at West Ham five and a half years ago now from Czech side Slavia Prague, initially on a loan deal, the 30 year old joined the Hammers as a virtual unknown. Since then the Czech international has been a constant in the West Ham first team.

The midfielder went on to play his part in an incredibly successful few seasons for the Hammers under David Moyes. In Soucek’s initial half a season on loan, the Club finished the 2019/20 season in 16th, getting themselves out of a relegation battle.

In the seasons that followed, West Ham reached heights the Club had not reached for some time, securing two top seven finishes and three straight years of European football. During that spell, they reached a Europa League semi final, won the Conference League, the Club’s first major trophy in over 40 years, and reached the quarter finals of the Europa League in the 2023/24 season, where they were beaten by Xabi Alonso’s exceptional Leverkusen team who went over 50 games unbeaten that season.

Soucek has proved to be an important and influential signing for West Ham. He arrived at a time when the Club were struggling, and when fellow Czech international Vladimir Coufal joined him in East London later that year, the pair were credited with raising standards behind the scenes. Their professionalism and work ethic were said to have had a big impact on the West Ham squad at that time.

While Soucek may not be the most technically gifted player, he is blessed with an incredible engine that allows him to cover huge amounts of ground week in, week out. His height gives him a strong aerial presence making him effective defensively and a threat from set pieces. He’s not afraid to put in a tackle and possesses a warrior like spirit, consistently putting his body on the line for the team.

Above all else, the Czech international is a threat in front of goal. Whether that be through late runs in to the box or simply being in the right place at the right time, season after season, Soucek will pop up with goals. Including his loan spell, Soucek is now 245 appearances into his West Ham career and has scored 41 goals in Claret and Blue.

Over the past few months there have been suggestions that Graham Potter may not be the biggest fan of the 30 year old and would be open to letting him leave the Club in the summer transfer window. This has led to speculation the midfielder could reunite with former West Ham manager David Moyes at Everton, with Moyes reportedly still a big admirer of the Czech international and keen on signing him.

Soucek is well loved by the fan base, he loves West Ham, understands what it means to represent the Club and gives his all every time he wears the shirt. Although it seems that anyone in the squad, bar Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Wan Bissaka, are available for the right price, selling Soucek is not a decision that would be supported by the Hammers fan base.

Coming off the back of a disappointing season for the Club, where Soucek was the Hammers second top goal scorer behind Jarrod Bowen and comfortably one of the sides better performers alongside Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Wan Bissaka, selling him would feel unjust. Should Graham Potter choose to do so, it’s a decision that has the potential to turn sections of West Ham supporters against him.

In a summer where West Ham are losing the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and may yet lose Michail Antonio, letting another experienced pro like Tomas Soucek leave, a fan favourite, who makes no secret of his love for the club, knows what it means to wear the badge, contributes goals from midfield and is also a useful asset defensively, would feel like a mistake. It’s a move that would be hard to justify.