West Ham United are showing an interest in Almeria and La Liga enforcer Samuel ‘Samu’ Costa after Premier League rivals Wolves missed out on the Portugal youth star, according to Estadio Deportivo.
Swatting aside an insipid Everton 2-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Hammers are celebrating their first league win since late-October. And is it any real nocoincidence that their long winless run came to an end after David Moyes relegated Tomas Soucek to the substitute’s bench?
The Czech Republic international is far from the only West Ham player who’s form has taken a nosedive over the last eight months or so, but arguably no one in claret-and-blue epitomised the club’s decline from Champions League-chasers to relegation-battlers more than Soucek.
The goals have dried up. And, while Soucek has never been the most cultured or technical of footballers, his lack of precision or guile in possession has become a major bone of contention amongst a concerned fanbase; attacks breaking down quicker than your new Smart Meter.
Lucas Paqueta started in place of Soucek against Everton. And while the former Lyon did a serviceable job in a deeper role, a withdrawn position is hardly capable of getting the best out of Brazil’s go-to ‘number ten’. Like asking a Michelin star chef to pour you a bowl of cereal.
West Ham United want Almeria’s La Liga ace Samuel ‘Samu’ Costa
The arrival of 22-year-old Samu Costa would, in theory, free up Paqueta to strut his stuff further forward, while giving Soucek some much-needed time away from the spotlight. According to Estadio Deportivo, West Ham are one of a number of clubs taking an interest in Almeria’s former Braga ace, alongside Valencia, Lyon and at least one Serie A outfit.
Samu Costa is valued at around £21 million. Wolverhampton Wanderers held talks in the summer of 2021, but Costa opted to stick around at an ambitious Almeria outfit pushing for promotion from Spain’s second tier at the time.
Now playing La Liga football for the first time in his career, Costa’s dynamic displays have not gone unnoticed. Estadio Deportivo believe that Almeria are already scouring the market for potential replacements; Villarrael’s Manuel Morlanes on their radar.
Costa averages fewer successful tackles per game than the hard-working Soucek. His pass completion rate is far higher than the Czech’s 74 per cent, however, with Costa capable of giving West Ham more quality and composure in the centre of the park (WhoScored).
Wolves, meanwhile, are also targeting a deep-lying midfielder this month. They appear to have moved on from Costa, however. Flamengo enforcer Joao Gomes is now at the top of Julen Lopetegui’s radar; the Copa Libertadores winner hoping to join the Molineux outfit despite interest from France.
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