Everton and West Ham United could yet create one of the transfer stories of the summer
West Ham United’s start to the new Premier League season could not have gone much worse. If second-half capitulation at a bouncing Stadium of Light was bad enough, conceding five in their first home game of the campaign against Chelsea was enough to make fans seriously worried.
The Hammers have an ageing squad and with the exception of bright sparks Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, it is difficult to see where the inspiration comes from for Graham Potter’s side at all.
Therefore, it would not have come as good news that Everton are pushing to sign one of their most reliable performers in Tomas Soucek, according to The Times. The Czech Republic captain was a favourite of former manager David Moyes, who would like to reunite with the midfielder at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium in Merseyside. The prospect of a key part of the dressing room leaving makes worrying reading for West Ham fans - but they could still be able to make the best of the situation.
West Ham and Everton swap deal could be on the cards
While reports state that West Ham have rejected Everton’s bid for Soucek, there could yet be a way to move forward with a transfer which works for both clubs. The Hammers could opt to identify an Everton star to be used as part of a swap deal.
The truth is that Soucek is moving closer to the twilight of his career at 30 and was one of the guilty parties when pundits criticised the Hammers midfield as having a lack of pace or dynamism as they were overran by Chelsea at London Stadium. The likelihood is that he may find his place within Potter’s starting XI at risk within the next 12 months if new faces are brought in and, therefore, this could be seen as an opportunity for the club to reinvest late in the window while they still have the chance.
The Hammers have reportedly agreed a deal worth £17million with Monaco for midfielder Soungoutou Magassa, while Middlesborough’s Hayden Hackney has also been touted as a target. Therefore, the east London side could target an Everton attacker in part of a deal for Soucek.
Tomas Soucek and Beto swap deal could be the answer
It has been common knowledge that West Ham have been on the search for a new striker for some years now. The likes of Gianluca Scamacca, Danny Ings and Niclas Fullkrug have all arrived in recent times but failed to find their feet in east London.
It got to the stage where you began to feel sorry for club legend Michail Antonio, with the Hammers bringing in fresh competition each summer before the Jamaica international regained his place as starting striker time and again - something Antonio himself has joked about previously during his time doing a podcast with new Hammers signing Callum Wilson.
Antonio has now departed the club, leaving Fullkrug and Wilson as the club’s only recognised senior centre-forwards. With both the wrong side of 30, a move for Everton striker Beto could be the answer. Potter needs a striker he can rely on to be fit every week and Beto struck eight Premier League goals last season, while the 27-year-old is also known as a workhorse up front who leaves everything out on the pitch and has the ability to stretch defences in behind.
Beto started Everton’s first game of the season at Leeds United but has often been linked with a move away this summer. The player may be keen for a fresh start elsewhere, in the knowledge that he may find game time increasingly hard to come by at Everton as young forward Thierno Barry develops further. A swap deal involving Soucek and Beto could make a surprising amount of sense for all parties.
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