With the departure of Tomas Soucek still very much a possibility at West Ham United, it appears that the Premier League outfit may be deciding against pursuing a like-for-like replacement.
Midfielders with Soucek’s eye for goal do not grow on trees, after all. And when they do emerge on the market, they tend to be pretty expensive.
Despite finishing last season with nine Premier League goals – Tomas Soucek’s best top-flight return since 2020/21 – Graham Potter reportedly has doubts about the Czech veteran’s ability to cope with the pace of English football as he enters the autumn days of a fine career.
Hammers News exclusively reported in May, via football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Leeds and Everton had held discussions with Soucek. A host of other first division clubs are understood to be interested as well, including one as-yet unnamed club from the ‘top eight’.
West Ham reportedly value Soucek at £20 million. And if such a deal can be agreed at that price – a fine piece of business from a financial perspective, if not a sporting one – then it is understood that the Hammers could step up their pursuit of Club Brugge ace Raphael Onyedika.
West Ham United could go for Raphael Onyedika if Tomas Soucek leaves
Reports at the beginning of June claimed that West Ham had entered discussions with Club Brugge.
Supposedly, the Nigeria international is ready to reject AC Milan in favour of a fresh challenge on the Premier League stage. Personal terms are not expected to pose much a problem from a Hammers perspective, a source speaking on behalf of his representatives tells Africa Foot.
It is also understood that head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has chosen Onyedika as his priority target in the midfield department.
And, in an update provided to Hammers News by Bailey on Friday, the former FC Midtjylland ace is considered to be someone capable of taking Soucek’s place in Graham Potter’s squad.
Onyedika would not, of course, be a like-for-like successor.
Nigeria ace Onyedika would give West Ham a different perspective
He is a similarly imposing presence at 6ft but that is where the similarities end, really. Onyedika scored only one league goal last season compared to Soucek’s nine. He is, furthermore, more of a deep-lying number six – part destroyer, part distributor – rather than a box-crashing number eight.
Though, as you might expect from a footballer who idolises Paul Pogba, describing Onyedika as a classic defensive midfielder would be doing him a disservice.
“Onyedika is a versatile player who plays mainly as a central midfielder and is capable of playing on the right flank, in a holding role, as a deep-lying playmaker, in a box-to-box role, or even as an attacking midfielder,” Nigerian newspaper Punch explained.
“Onyedika is skilful and is very good at aerial balls. He is strong and has also drawn praise for his flair, speed as well as ability to hold up the ball.”
“Onyedika has a very good first touch on the ball, “write scouting site Total Football Analysis. “He is [also] one of the most critical progressors for his side and is very crucial for their transition from the first to the second phase, and the second to the third phase in possession.
“Onyedika has that security on the ball where he is very good at covering it and protecting it under pressure from the opponent. Due to his physicality, he has the ability to shield it with his strength. Due to this, it’s not easy for the opposition players to dispossess him.
“Overall, his ability on the ball in possession is very good and is one of the crucial aspects of Club Brugge’s tactics in possession. Since he is still young, he could probably iron out some of the inconsistencies he has in his game as he ages.”
Onyedika would not solve the goalscoring issue at West Ham. An issue which will become even more glaring if Soucek does indeed depart.
He would, though, give Graham Potter a much-needed dash of athleticism, some drive both on-and-off-the-ball, and extra tactical flexibility. Maybe not a direct Soucek replacement, but a valuable and important addition nonetheless.
