Graham Potter appears, to all intents and purposes, to have made his mind up about ‘marmite’ midfielder [Tomas Soucek.](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-exclusive-potter-greenlights-soucek-exit-as-midfield-shake-up-begins/) From Claret and Hugh’s earlier article it seems West Ham’s manager seeks to upgrade and improve on the immobility and lack of creativity that has been only too evident this season.
Whilst this might feel incredibly bruising for one of the Hammers’ most loyal and hardworking players, and bewildering for his thousands of West Ham supporters – me included – what cannot be denied is that the Hammers need to improve on their woeful centre of the park performances in 2024-5.
So providing fellow midfielders Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodrigues, James Ward Prowse and loanee Carlos Soler also come under the Potter axe then Hammers’ scorched earth policy could be justified as ‘ripping up and starting again’.
The Hammers have long been linked Columbian Richard Rios – a combative midfielder currently plying his trade in Brazil with Palmeiras. Of late it had been reported that FC Porto were the ‘top tipped’ side to bid for Rios (him of the daft alleged €85 million release clause) at up to €20 million, but they’ve since backed away, leaving West Ham an opportunity to become the first in line. _[Insidefulbol.com](https://insidefutbol.com/2025/05/21/nottingham-forest-wolves-and-west-ham-namechecked-amid-strikers-availability-claim/684071/)_ report today that:
_“West Ham United have now been boosted in their chase of midfield target Richard Rios, as European giants FC Porto are out of the race….Palmeiras are ready to let Rios go, but they are looking for a fee of around €30m to do that.”_
Rios would certainly be an upgrade on Tornado Tom: For the €30 million figures being discussed that would certainly be a ‘do-able’ Hammers deal if they could convince David Moyes to come up with £15 million to take the Czech to Everton. Soucek has been a wonderful servant of the club and it would be sad to see him got – but bringing in Rios would most certainly sweeten a bitter pill for fans to swallow.