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FLW's West Ham fan pundit has given his verdict on Tomas Soucek's future with the club

West Ham are preparing for life in the Championship after suffering relegation from the Premier League.

It has been a busy summer already for the Hammers, who have completed the £85 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder could be just the beginning of a number of key first team exits from the London Stadium between now and the transfer market closing on 1 July.

The likes of Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen are among the names that have been linked with a move away.

However, one player that is set to remain with the club is Tomas Soucek, who has confirmed his future with the Irons.

The Czech midfielder is currently out injured after suffering a knee injury while competing at the World Cup.

Tomas Soucek staying is a huge boost for West Ham

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When asked about Soucek staying with the club, FLW’s West Ham fan pundit Ryan Horn claimed that he is delighted with the midfielder’s decision, as he has become a cult hero during his time at the London Stadium.

He believes that Soucek has joined the list of players who have really understood what it means to play for the Irons, and that his warrior spirit will be a huge asset to have in the dressing room in the Championship.

“As much as he’s got an injury, just him staying is amazing,” Horn told Football League World.

“He’s something that West Ham — we’re a very tight knit community, pride ourselves on being a family club, and what it means to be a Hammer, and we see all these players come in from different countries and different cultures and take on the West Ham family, and become a Hammer for life, like Pablo Fornals, like Soucek, Winston Reid, just to name a few, Ogbonna, Adrian.

“Other teams those names don’t mean something, but to us as West Ham it means everything.

“And Soucek has always worked really hard on the pitch.

“He does make mistakes like every player does, and he’s not flashy or anything like that.

“But I believe he holds the record for most 90th minute goals, last minute goals, or something like that, for club and country.

“And he is just a warrior.

“He puts his body on the line, he will go down as a West Ham cult hero, and I’m glad that we’ve kept him.”

Horn is pleased that Soucek won’t be seeking a reunion with David Moyes at Everton, and that he wanted the midfielder to stay regardless of his injury status.

“I’m glad he didn’t go to Everton, where I know he was linked with because Moyes brought him to the club in the first place,” he added.

“I’m really happy he’s stayed, and I wouldn’t want him to be moved on anyway, even if he wasn’t injured, I wanted him to stay.

“We need that leadership, and he knows what it means to be West Ham, and I think players coming in will love to see that as well.”

Soucek joined West Ham in the 2020 January transfer window, arriving from Slavia Prague, and has become a crucial part of their first team squad.

The midfielder has contributed 41 goals and eight assists from 229 Premier League appearances for the club in that time.

He was also a key figure in their 2023 UEFA Conference League triumph, earning the club their first major trophy their 1980 FA Cup win.

The Czechia international is set to be absent for a number of months after going off with a knee injury in the country’s World Cup clash against Mexico in their final game.

Czechia were eliminated from the tournament with a fourth place finish in Group A, earning just one point from their three fixtures.

West Ham will return to league action on 16 August with a trip to face Burnley in the opening game of the new campaign, but Soucek will be absent.

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Tomas Soucek staying is great news for West Ham

Soucek has been a fantastic servant for West Ham in the last six years, and this injury comes at a horrible time for him and the club.

It remains to be seen when he will come back, but it is a great development for the Hammers that his return will come with them and not with a new side.

Fans will be hoping he can make his return as soon as possible, as he can play a pivotal role in their ambition to earn promotion next season.

He has proven a real threat in the final third from midfield as well, which makes him a very valuable asset for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.