Tomas Soucek has again been speaking about his future at West Ham United as uncertainty hangs over the Czech Republic international.
As Paris Saint-Germain reportedly step up their interest in Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville, rumours surrounding the Hammers’ long-serving midfield giant have been relatively few and far between thus far.
David Moyes’ Everton were mentioned in passing. There have been ambitious suggestions of a return to Slavia Prague. But little else, in truth.
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David Moyes wants to bring him to Everton…
Tomas Soucek certainly does not seem like the type of character to leap into a lifeboat at the first sign of a leak. Yet, with West Ham United needing to sell following relegation to the Championship, the Premier League’s highest all-time Czech goalscorer may be sacrificed for the greater good.
Tomas Soucek sounds torn on his West Ham United future
Soucek was speaking to the Czech branch of Forbes before their 2-1 defeat by South Korea on the first day of the 2026 World Cup.
“In football, you never know what will happen every six months,” said the 31-year-old. “I love West Ham, but I need to calmly discuss with the manager [Nuno Espirito Santo] and the board what their views are on the way forward and what the options are.”
Soucek admits that, while a move to Serie A would appeal to him, he must balance his sporting ambitions against the needs of a family settled into London life.
“I played in the best league in the world or European cups for almost seven years, playing maybe 90 per cent of what I could, so I don’t want to say that I’ll just play in the second league now and I don’t mind,” he adds. “However, the life of a footballer is not just about ambitions on the pitch.
“I have a family, a wife, three children, and any potential football transfer means a major disruption to family life. So it is necessary to consider all possible options.
“Of course, we have been dealing with this for some time, preparing for various scenarios, but I still primarily hoped that this situation [relegation] would not occur and that we would not have to deal with it.
“On the one hand, I have achieved everything. On the other hand, I am a realist and know that I will probably not go any higher. If I were to leave West Ham, I would probably not go to the top three teams in England, but rather to a team of similar quality.
“And if not, staying at the club and trying to get it back to the Premier League can also be a special and in many ways attractive challenge. As well as trying out another of the top five leagues in Europe, both in terms of sport and life, because we know nothing other than the English league and the eternally rainy London.”
Serie A move and Slavia Prague return appeals to Soucek
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Soucek became only the fifth West Ham player to record 200 Premier League starts a couple of months ago. It remains to be seen if he will ever add to an impressive tally of 216 appearances in England’s top-flight.
Soucek has only ever played in England and his native Czech Republic. As such, a fresh start in a foreign land does hold some appeal.
“Probably Italy the most,” Soucek said when asked which destination he would be most intrigued by. “Because if there’s one thing we miss in England, it’s the beautiful weather.
“In contrast, [in Italy] a high standard of living combined with high quality football, so the idea looks nice. But I would also like to return to Slavia, where I started when I was ten years old, someday.
“I would say that I am a kind-hearted person, both for my wife, children and friends I have known since I was young, and I feel the same way towards the clubs I have spent a long time at. Besides West Ham, it is Slavia and Havlickuv Brod, where I grew up.
“So if that circle gradually closed, it would be a beautiful story. We will see if and when it will be fulfilled.”
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