West Ham United should extend Tomas Soucek contract rather than waste £35m
Almost the entirety of the West Ham United summer transfer window was focused on adapting David Moyes’ midfield following the departure of Declan Rice.
The Hammers appear to have recruited well with both James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez starting incredibly well at the London Stadium, with the former in the conversation as one of the best signings in the Premier League this season.
But it doesn’t appear that the Irons are finished adding to their midfield ranks, with rumours already beginning to circulate that more additions could be made in the coming transfer windows as David Moyes’ side look to push forward.
While Locatelli is a very talented footballer and has impressed in Italy, he would not offer a direct replacement to the Czech international who has outperformed the Italian both defensively and in attack so far this season.
The Italian international is a very well-rounded midfielder but doesn’t particularly shine in one set area of the pitch, falling in the 81st percentile of all Serie A midfielders in terms of progressive passes made per game and the 91st for clearances per 90 minutes.
If West Ham are looking to replace the Czech midfielder, they would be much better off just extending his contract at the London Stadium, rather than spending upwards of £35million to buy a player who is unproven in the Premier League.
Moyes has much more important areas of the pitch to strengthen his side in upcoming transfer windows, with a new striker still required and more defensive cover a priority before adding to his already strong midfield selection.
Soucek’s performances so far this season have shown that he is more than worthy of a new contract with the Hammers and in the long term, West Ham would save themselves a lot of money by extending his stay instead of signing Locatelli.
The Italian isn’t as creatively minded as Ward-Prowse and not as defensively adept as Alvarez, all while not possessing the goal-scoring touch that Soucek has shown both in Europe and the Premier League.
West Ham would be better off saving their money and instead invest in a new forward to finally solve the striker problem they’ve faced for years.
