There was one fleeting moment when Carlos Soler – the Spain international who arrived at West Ham United from Paris Saint-Germain amid lofty expectations – appeared to have some life in him at last.
His loan spell at the London Stadium had been highly forgettable until that moment.
Until West Ham United travelled to Newcastle in November. Until a 2-0 win at St James’ Park which proved to be the undoubted highlight of the Julen Lopetegui era.
Carlos Soler produced a 10/10 performance – well, in the eyes of Hammers News anyway – while belatedly showing the visiting support what all the fuss was about.
The fact that we are now seven months on from that unexpected victory on Tyneside, and the feeling is that Carlos Soler has no chance of staying at West Ham beyond the summer, should make it pretty clear that a swashbuckling display away to Champions League-chasing Newcastle was very much a proverbial flash in the pan.
West Ham have the option to sign Carlos Soler permanently this summer to the tune of £16.5 million.
Not so long ago, such a fee would have appeared an almighty bargain for a silky, highly-intelligent midfielder with 14 caps in a remarkably competitive Spain set-up. Soler is one of very few to score a La Liga hat-trick against Real Madrid.
And, while opportunities to start in PSG’s XI were relatively few and far between, West Ham still appeared to be pulling off quite the coup when landing a big-name playmaker with 19 Champions League outings on an impressive CV.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Carlos Soler could leave West Ham United for a Premier League rival
Whatever the reason – blame Carlos Soler’s inability to adapt, blame the stifling tactics of Lopetegui and Graham Potter – that Newcastle masterclass was probably the only occasion all season in which the former Valencia captain has resembled the Carlos Soler of old.
By his own admission, Soler has not lived up to expectations in the Premier League. He would ideally like to stay and make a success of his time in England, though.
And with Le Parisien reporting that Soler’s chances of a Paris Saint-Germain return are about the same as snow falling in the fiery rivers of hell itself, redemption may instead appear in the blue-and-white shirt of Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Paris-based publication reports that PSG are ‘not counting’ on Soler for next term. But Brighton have made early enquiries, in the expectation that a two-time Ligue 1 champion will not be retained by West Ham either.
PSG loanee admits West Ham spell is ‘not what I expected’
Interestingly, Soler was linked with The Seagulls back in 2024, before joining West Ham. Fabian Hurzeler’s stylish, possession-based football should suit Soler far better than the pragmatic Lopetegui ever did, and that is without mentioning the sluggish, toothless approach introduced by Potter.
“It’s not been what I expected,” Soler told West Ham’s website recently when discussing his struggles in claret and blue. “Nor what the team or the fans expected.
“Because, when I arrived at this big club, the goal was not to be where we are now. The goal was an ambitious project with lots of new players and new coaches and trying to do things better than last year.
“However, I have really enjoyed my season here despite not being in the position that we want to be in. I have enjoyed living here in London, playing with this team and playing in front of this crowd and these incredible fans.
“I would have loved to play more and to be more involved in the starting line-ups, but it doesn’t just depend on me. It’s what is best for the team, for the staff, the Head Coach and for everyone at the club.
“I’ve always tried to do my best in training and in the games, and sometimes in football it doesn’t happen how you want, but I’ve enjoyed this year here in England, and obviously I would love to be in this league for a lot more years because every player wants to play in the Premier League, and I’m no different.”