The transfer window has its fair share of true stories, rumours and mis-speaks: Only last summer [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/did-west-ham-promise-potter-a-90m-transfer-war-chest/) were linked with over two hundred players – at least that was the point at which we stopped counting. So trying to corroborate stories and articles from other outlets can go a long way to inform readers of what’s real, what’s hopeful and what’s simply neither of those two.
This morning’s [Tomas Soucek](https://www.claretandhugh.info/not-in-potters-plans-hammers-fan-favourite-on-burnleys-shopping-list/) story from _footballinsider.com_ suggested that newly promoted Burnley were hoping to put together a deal to take Tornado Tom to Turf Moor as he ‘_was no longer in Graham Potter’s long term plans.’_
To throw some more light on this we spoke with our own Claret and Hugh source inside Tomas Soucek’s camp, to try and establish whether the Burnley interest was genuine and if indeed Soucek might be sold this summer.
The response came back _:”They want him on-loan and guaranteed sale if they stay up…’_
Which is either the Midlands club trying it on to see how desperate the Hammers are to ship out players this summer (as lamented often by West Ham’s own board), or an indication of Burnley’s own financial limitations when trying to build a Premier League squad on a budget (sound familiar?). Other comments suggested that Burnley might not be ‘comfortable’ with Soucek’s £90k a week in any case.
Either way, based on that proposal it doesn’t sound as if Tomas Soucek will be packing his bags any day soon.
West Ham are in need of funds for player sales rather than simply dropping money from the weekly wage bill, so a loan doesn’t sound a very appealing option for the bean counters at London Stadium.
Whether it triggers other, more attractive offers from Soucek’s reported admirers at Leeds or Everton, though, who can say.
Burnley’s interest in the Czech seems genuine, though: And remembering the events of last summer when James Ward-Prowse went from aspiring club vice-captain to suddenly without warning being summarily dispatched on-loan on deadline day – never say never!