At this stage, the explanation for Tomas Soucek’s rather underwhelming form in a West Ham United shirt has almost been accepted as fact. The Czech Republic international has played no fewer than 94 club games since the start of 2020/21. No wonder he looks tired. Wouldn’t you?
But there are only so far excuses can carry you. Yes, there’s a good reason why Soucek looks a shadow of, say, 18 months ago. But with West Ham returning to a familiar flame – a deal for long-term transfer target Hans Vanaken back on the cards – the fact remains that that it is Soucek who will be glancing nervously over his own shoulder.
It’s one goal in 14 games now for Soucek in West Ham colours. And while it would be unfair in the extreme to describe the former Slavia Prague captain as a one-trick pony – not to mention plain wrong – bursting into the penalty area to finish off chances remains his most important attribute. Soucek’s party trick.
And you can say the same for Vanaken; A 6ft 5ins mountain of a midfielder with a penchant for breaking into the box before locating the back of the net, often with his head. Sound familiar, West Ham fans? In 339 games, Vanaken has scored 101 goals for Club Brugge. 15 of those came in 2021/22, the Blau-Zwart won the league again.
Remarkably, he’s hit double figures in every single season since 2011/12, lifting five Jupiler League titles and two Belgian Footballer of the Year awards.
West Ham again bidding for Club Brugge star Hans Vanaken
“I have never seen such a big player with such a technique,” former team-mate Onur Kaya tells Sport/Voetbalmagazine.
“The special thing about Hans is that he has the footwork of a player of 1 metre 70. You can say that it is not nice to watch, that he is a bit slow, but he has an extraordinary intelligence.
“To be honest, I think he is stronger than a Dele Alli at Tottenham.”
West Ham, of course, have been here before. According to Het Belang van Limburg, The Hammers have had an initial £9 million bid rejected, but remain confident that a deal can be struck (Standard).
Circumstances worked against West Ham when they tried to sign Vanaken back in 2020. But with the COVID crisis now in the rear-view mirror and with Vanaken running out of time at the age of 29, The Hammers’ renewed sense of confidence does not appear to be misplaced.
“We were then in the time of corona and there was also Brexit,” Vanaken explained a couple of weeks ago. “Which made it not easy to go to London.
“Of course, my wife and I talked about it. We liked the city of London. When I first heard that West Ham was really concrete, Club Brugge had already refused two offers.
“Then they also offered me a new contract and I stayed.”
Two years on, the Vanaken to West Ham rumours are returning with a vengeance. And, for the first time since he joined West Ham, Tomas Soucek’s position in David Moyes’ XI may be about to come under serious threat.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
