The ‘scorched- earth summer’ continues as West Ham tear down their failed midfield and rebuild in earnest with just one weekend to run in the transfer window. Edson Alvarez – gone. Guido Rodriguez- going. [Andy Irving – going](https://www.claretandhugh.info/wrexham-stun-celtic-and-rangers-to-land-west-ham-midfielder/). And add to that list Hammers’ long time servant and fan favourite **Tomas Soucek** who may well be out of the door and heading to Merseyside if Everton manager David Moyes gets his wish.
West Ham had set their asking price at£19 million for the Czech skipper, according to [_footballinsider247.com_](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-everton-close-in-on-tomas-soucek-as-new-bid-submitted/), and David Moyes’ first offer met with refusal. However as reported today in their article” _Everton close in on Tomas Soucek_” the footy site reports:
_“Everton are submitting an improved bid to sign West Ham star Tomas Soucek.. West Ham value Soucek at £19million, and the player has made it clear he is keen to join Everton and be reunited with former manager David Moyes. Everton’s new offer is going in as they work on securing a deal by next Monday’s transfer cut-off.”_
Which will be met in equal measures by consternation and contentment by the West Ham fan base for whom Tornado Tom has always been a ‘marmite’ player: He’s either loathed by fans who see him as slow, unable to pick a pass and overdue an exit: Alternatively his admirers simply underline his goal tally and point out that without his goals, last year would have seen West Ham relegated.
Both camps are probably right!
What has been whispered to us is that if Everton do get a deal over the line, it will likely trigger West Ham’s effort to _capture a third midfielder_ in this window so as not to leave the squad short. A pretty frenetic last 72 hours remains.
The reality is that anything close to £19 million is probably too good to turn down for 30 year old Soucek – which almost breaks my heart to write it – but if it means the Hammers can snare Quentin Timber, for example, in his place, then ‘business is business’.