There are only two truly ‘unsellable’ players in Graham Potter’s squad and, despite another impressive Premier League campaign in front of goal, Tomas Soucek is not one of them.
Hammers News can confirm that, heading into the final few weeks of a summer window which has come belatedly to life at the London Stadium, there are still a handful of players who could follow Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings, Aaron Cresswell, Mohammed Kudus and co out the door.
West Ham ‘need to move a few fringe players out’, a spokesman for the club’s board exclusively told us after a Leicester City accepted an £18 million bid for Mads Hermansen on Thursday.
If West Ham United are to follow up Hermansen with an expensive midfielder for instance – Aston Villa value Jacob Ramsey at around £50 million while Southampton want a considerable fee for Mateus Fernandes – then it’s pretty obvious what must first be done.
Hammers News have been informed, by chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that captain Jarrod Bowen and 2024/25 Player of the Year Aaron Wan-Bissaka are deemed untouchable.
The same cannot be said, however, of Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Guido Rodriguez, Edson Alvarez or long-serving fan favourite Soucek.
Tomas Soucek during Premier League Summer Series Manchester United vs West Ham United
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
West Ham United could still sell Tomas Soucek and Emerson Palmieri
The giant midfielder enjoyed his second-most prolific top-flight campaign in 2024/25, hitting the target nine times. Soucek hopes to set a Premier League record in claret-and-blue. He is within touching distance of Patrick Berger, the competition’s highest-scoring Czech player.
However, Graham Potter has understandable reservations about Soucek and his suitability for a possession-based system.
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Potter used a 3-4-2-1 system in pre-season too, with fairly impressive results. Soucek arguably lacks the passing range to operate in a deeper role while the craft of Bowen and Lucas Paqueta mean they appear best suited to playing off Niclas Fullkrug.
Emerson Palmieri during West Ham United FC v Leicester City FC - Premier League
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Graeme Bailey revealed all the way back in May that Everton and Leeds had held talks with Soucek, alongside another three clubs. Three months on, however, things are currently very quiet regarding the former Slavia Prague colossus.
The same can be said of Emerson Palmieri.
The Brazil-born Italy international did not travel with the rest of the squad for the pre-season tour of the USA. And, while Graham Potter let Emerson know he is not part of his plans, Real Betis opted for Leeds cult hero Junior Firpo instead.
A return to Italy with Lazio is currently frozen, meanwhile, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Guido Rodriguez during Tottenham Hotspur FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
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Guido Rodriguez wants Real Betis as Edson Alvarez and Nayef Aguerd face uncertain futures
Movement has been in short supply around Edson Alvarez too. As for Nayef Aguerd, Real Sociedad opted against signing the Morocco international permanently following a decent loan spell in Spain last term.
Hammers News have been told that Aguerd’s price-tag has increased as of late, despite links with Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, Juventus and co going quiet.
Finally, Guido Rodriguez is understood to be waiting for Real Betis to make a move.
The World Cup-winning Argentina international excelled in Andalusia before joining West Ham on a free transfer during the summer of 2024. But, after Betis turned their noses up at Emerson, it remains to be seen whether former Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini will make the call Rodriguez is hoping for.
Guido Rodriguez rubbished reports of a move to Real Betis at the beginning of the summer.
And, like with Soucek, Alvarez, Emerson and Aguerd, a lack of recent speculation suggests that West Ham may be in for a frustrating final few weeks of the window.