David Moyes will be a happy man after West Ham responded to fresh claims of a bid being made for a midfielder.
With West Ham and Everton getting active in the transfer market, the Hammers’ stance could change everything for both clubs in more ways than one.
Midfield is said to be the next top priority for Graham Potter’s West Ham rebuild.
The same can be said for David Moyes as he prepares to lead Everton into a new era in their wonderful new stadium.
Potter has highlighted midfield as the team’s fundamental problem, dating back to Moyes’ tenure in east London.
West Ham and Everton focusing on midfield signings
The truth is the Hammers failed miserably in the difficult task of replacing what Declan Rice brought to their team in terms of athleticism, dynamism, pace, power and personality.
Potter is looking to fix that.
Meanwhile Moyes is looking to beef up his midfield after the departures of Abdoulaye Doucouré and Orel Mangala.
That had led Moyes back to his old club West Ham for Tomas Soucek, according to widespread – and persistent – reports.
Toffees boss Moyes has not only named Soucek among his best ever signings as a manager but also credited him as a big reason he was awarded an OBE.
A leading source close to Hammers majority owner David Sullivan recently claimed Soucek is ‘odds-on’ to join Everton this summer.
When the 30-year-old was relegated to the bench by Potter last season, a leading journalist said the West Ham boss is open to selling Soucek due to ‘doubts about his energy levels’ in midfield.
Many Hammers fans have been angered by the possibility Soucek could be sold to Everton.
That is understandable given the four-time – and current – Czech player of the year has been their best and most consistent performer alongside Jarrod Bowen since they both arrived in the first window of Moyes’ second spell at the London Stadium in January 2020.
There has been fresh speculation recently that Moyes will make a lowball £12m bid to take Soucek to Everton.
West Ham fan favourite Soucek himself made his position clear to Everton this week in the wake of the new rumours.
West Ham response on midfielder will be music to Everton’s ears
Many believed a sudden new West Ham transfer link which emerged last weekend was tied to the potential departure of Soucek.
But now West Ham’s response to a midfielder bid claim will be music to Everton’s ears.
Last week it was reported in Italy that West Ham were on the verge of signing Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz.
The reports stated that personal terms were already agreed in a fast-moving deal between the Hammers and Juventus for ex Villa star Luiz.
West Ham were actually linked with Luiz back in December – so the link was not a major surprise.
La Gazzetta dello Sport – as repeated by Juventus News – said there was confidence a deal for West Ham to sign Luiz ‘is well-organised and can be closed’ as a paid loan and obligation.
La Gazzetta also claimed West Ham were working on an agreement with Juve that included a £5m loan fee with an obligation to buy at around £20-23m and that the ‘deal appears to be nearing completion’.
West Ham’s owners exclusively responded to Hammers News on Luiz, stating the claims were ‘Not true!”
Since then Everton have been heavily linked with the 27-year-old, who is keen to get out of Turin due to a lack of game time.
Moyes has liked the player from his time at West Ham, so those links have credibility too.
Despite the Hammers’ denials, heading into the weekend Juve FC claimed Everton had leapfrogged West Ham in the race for Luiz.
Everton moving for Luiz suggests they know they won’t be signing contented Soucek from the Hammers.
Now the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners has responded again to the Luiz claims.
Hammers chief Sullivan is heading up transfer dealings as the club’s de facto director of football. He is working alongside head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay and manager Potter.
Hammers clear path for Everton to sign Luiz
It was put to the senior spokesman for the board whether there was any truth to the new Luiz claims.
The response will be just what Moyes wants to hear.
Because the Hammers insist it is news to them.
“Nobody has mentioned Douglas Luiz in our transfer discussions,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
That is the second time in a week West Ham have denied the links to Luiz.
Things can always change in the transfer window but it seems that particular rumour can be well and truly put to bed.
And the path now looks clear for Everton to do a deal to bring Luiz back to the Premier League.
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