Tomas Soucek has spoken out on social media and made a bold demand to Hammers chief David Sullivan about departing West Ham star Michail Antonio.
There are few players who have been more influential than Tomas Soucek at West Ham since arriving in 2020.
The big Czech fan favourite has been West Ham’s best and most consistent player behind Jarrod Bowen since they arrived in the same January window that year.
All good things come to an end and Soucek seems to be at a major crossroads in his Hammers career.
His best friend Vladimir Coufal has been released, signing for Hoffenheim.
And his position as a starter under Graham Potter looks in serious doubt after months of speculation he could be sold with the likes of Everton and Leeds interested.
West Ham fan anger at Antonio situation
Potter dropped Soucek to the bench for a spell towards the end of last season but he bounced back to re-establish himself in the side, ending the campaign with nine goals from midfield.
The prospect of Soucek leaving has sparked anger from some West Ham fans.
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He holds a special place in their hearts given the journey they have been on together.
But Potter has proved he is not afraid to make ruthless decisions despite being painted as something of a meek yes man by many.
Time will tell what happens with Soucek but the fate of another of West Ham’s most influential stars has now been sealed.
Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio celebrate a West Ham goal together
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
After months of speculation, it has finally been officially confirmed that Michail Antonio is leaving the club.
A decade after joining the east Londoners in a bargain £7.5m deal from Nottingham Forest, West Ham made the formal announcement after Potter confirmed Antonio would no longer be a Hammers player under him while in the USA.
Antonio was reportedly offered a pay-as-you-play deal similar to the one his close friend Callum Wilson signed with West Ham at the weekend.
That controversial Wilson deal came on the same day Potter, for the first time in an official capacity, revealed Antonio’s decade as a West Ham player was at an end.
Rightly or wrongly, many fans feel Antonio has been treated poorly.
Soucek makes bold demand to Sullivan over departing Antonio
And there was criticism of the club for announcing that Wilson would be taking Antonio’s number nine shirt on the same day they officially confirmed he is leaving.
Some supporters feel the club should have kept Antonio rather than sign Wilson – who is just two years younger than the 35-year-old Jamaican and even more injury-prone.
The fact Wilson is a client of agent Will Salthouse, who is a close friend of Hammers chief David Sullivan and his sons, has also irked many West Ham supporters.
Fans now await a farewell message and/or video from Antonio and the club will look to arrange his return to the London Stadium for a proper farewell during a game next season.
Supporters and players have been reacting to the news West Ham’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer is moving on after 10 years.
Now Soucek has made a bold demand to Sullivan over departing West Ham star Antonio.
Two of West Ham's heroes of Sevilla Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio talk tactics during the memorable clash
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
After having contract wrangles with Sullivan over the last five years himself and having watched Coufal go through something similar before being let go, Soucek knows how the Hammers operate.
Many West Ham fans are upset Aaron Cresswell was not given a testimonial for his 11 years of service when Potter elected to release him at the end of June.
But Soucek is not holding his tongue about one of his fellow heroes of Sevilla.
The towering Czech has reacted to West Ham’s post about Antonio’s departure by demanding Sullivan builds a statue of the striker at the London Stadium.
Soucek tells Sullivan to build Antonio a statue at West Ham
“Build him a statue,” Soucek said on his Instagram Stories while tagging West Ham in over a picture of Antonio alongside heart and Hammers emojis.
Super Tom doubled down on the sentiment by also replying to the West Ham post saying the same thing.
The demand will undoubtedly spark an interesting debate.
Antonio has helped West Ham win their only major trophy of the last 45 years and has scored so many important goals for the team in his 10 years.
It would seem more likely that Bowen will be in line for a statue one day.
Not only because he scored the winner on that unforgettable night in Prague but Bowen will likely overtake Antonio’s Premier League goal record for West Ham this season or early next.
Soucek’s bold demand of the club shows in what high esteem Antonio was held in the Hammers dressing room.
He will clearly be missed, just as he was for the second half of last season following his horrific car crash which resulted in a broken leg in four places.
If West Ham don’t build a statue they need to find some way to honour Antonio and Cresswell for a combined 21 years of service.