West Ham United are planning for a busy summer transfer window filled with many incomings and outgoings.
Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, and Danny Ings will leave at the end of their contracts in June.
After unsuccessful loan spells, Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson will return to their parent club.
The Hammers need to rebuild an ageing and underperforming squad. The club also has to sell to balance the books, and there is interest in some West Ham stars.
[Atletico Madrid reportedly initiated contact for Mohammed Kudus](https://westhamblog.co.uk/posts/atletico-madrid-initiate-contact-to-sign-west-ham-ace-mohammed-kudus/). There is also interest from Everton and Leeds United in midfielder Tomas Soucek.
Soucek has been a mainstay for West Ham under previous managers, but new boss Graham Potter was happy to leave him on the bench for a few games.
This move led to rumours that Potter would be happy to let go of Soucek to sign more technicians in the engine room.
However, the English tactician shut down those talks at his press conference ahead of a meeting with Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Potter said (via the [West Ham website](https://www.whufc.com/news/it-happened-graham-potters-pre-nottingham-forest-press-conference)): “He’s been a fantastic signing for the club, first and foremost, to deliver what he has delivered over a period of time.
“He’s a top professional, he has been a fantastic servant to the club, and I am looking forward to working with him in the short, medium and long-term future.”
Letting go of Soucek would be a baffling mistake for West Ham. The Hammers need to keep him away from Everton and Leeds.
Technicians may bring control, but Soucek brings goals. He has nine in 33 Premier League games this season, second only to Jarrod Bowen.
And they are not just any goals. Soucek’s recent strike sealed a 2-0 win over Manchester United.
With 41 goals in 243 appearances, Soucek is a proven, durable weapon in midfield. His aerial presence, engine, and knack for arriving late in the box are irreplaceable traits.
Even in a more technical setup, players like him turn tight games into wins. West Ham should not be selling him.
(Stats from Transfermarkt)