Captain Jarrod Bowen has sent a blunt warning to West Ham’s owners and fans about their star being linked with Everton.
Jarrod Bowen has been hands down West Ham’s best and most consistent player since joining the club in 2020.
The Hammers actually beat Newcastle and Everton to Bowen’s signature for that bargain £20.5m January deadline day deal.
Tomas Soucek has not been far behind Bowen as West Ham’s next best and most reliable performer, though.
Both were signed in that same January window by former boss David Moyes, now at Everton.
There was an inevitability that Moyes might come for West Ham players after returning to the Toffees.
And so it has proved with reports that Moyes wants to bring both Soucek and his Czech mate Vladimir Coufal to Everton in the summer.
Moyes affectionately refers to Soucek and Coufal as ‘my Czech boys’.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
The Scot has singled Soucek and Coufal out for praise time and again, saying they were key in transforming the culture at West Ham during his tenure.
Even when the Everton boss received an OBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours, he dedicated it to West Ham and name-dropped Soucek and Coufal.
Soucek remains a key player for West Ham, establishing himself in the side under Julen Lopetegui and now Graham Potter.
However, there is no hiding the fact Soucek has had his doubters at West Ham in recent seasons.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Bowen’s big warning to West Ham over star amid Everton links
Some fans even regrettably and pathetically jeered the selfless midfielder during tough times.
Despite being Mr Reliable for the Hammers again this season, a minority of fans still believe he will ultimately not fit into the way Potter wants West Ham to play.
Against the backdrop of links with a move to Everton in the summer, Soucek made a big admission about playing for Moyes ahead of West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
It was Soucek who got the goal to add another sub-plot to the clash.
Although it should be noted Soucek was about to be substituted by Potter before his goal, giving those doubters further ammunition.
Now the skipper has had his say on the situation.
Blunt Bowen has issued a big warning to West Ham over Soucek amid the Everton links.
Speaking after the Everton game, before heading off on international duty with England, Bowen made it clear he feels Soucek is underappreciated at West Ham.
West Ham have made it clear players will need to be sold this summer due to PSR.
With that in mind and with Moyes and Everton reportedly circling for Soucek, West Ham would do well to heed words of wisdom from their captain.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
‘Soucek deserves more appreciation at West Ham’ says Bowen
“He’s (Soucek) scored some really crucial and important goals, and it (the goal against Everton) was another one of those,” Bowen told West Ham’s website.
“He’s been here the same time as me now, and what he does for the team probably goes a bit unnoticed.
“He scored the first goal in the game today, but it’s not just that goal, he’s scored many goals this season as well, at crucial times.”
Soucek is certainly appreciated by Moyes, even now at Everton, as Claret and Hugh – a site with close links to the Hammers board – are of the belief the Toffees will test the waters for the 30-year-old this summer.
Bowen is right to make a point of highlighting Soucek’s importance and call for even more respect to be put on his name in east London.
Soucek certainly gets plenty of respect in his homeland.
Because the Hammers ace has been named the Czech Footballer of the Year for the fourth time.
Voting was undertaken by the Czech Football Association and the reported Everton target finished ahead of Slavia Prague’s Lukas Provod by a significant margin of 21 points.
With Bowen’s calls for Soucek to get his flowers ringing in the club’s ears, West Ham made sure to bang the drum about their midfield star’s brilliant achievement.