As Everton make a move for West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek, it probably doesn’t need explaining that this would be a transfer with David Moyes’ fingerprints all over it.
The giant Czech was a massive cog in the Moyes machine between his £19 million arrival from Slavia Prague half-a-decade ago and the veteran Scot’s departure in 2024.
Over three quarters of his 39 West Ham United goals – Soucek still hopes to break a Premier League record and become the competition’s top-scoring Czech player – came under the man now in charge at Everton’s shiny new Hill Dickinson home.
With David Moyes frequently highlighting the need for more attacking thrust in his Toffees squad, it appears that the manager with the third-most top-flight games under his belt is turning to a familiar face.
Everton saw a bid rejected by West Ham for Tomas Soucek a few days ago.
And while Moyes did not mention his 30-year-old favourite by name when quizzed on the Toffees’ transfer plans on Wednesday, his comments still made for intriguing reading.
David Moyes has big say on Everton transfers as West Ham United reject Tomas Soucek offer
Everton hired Nick Cox [Technical Director], James Smith [Director of Scouting and Recruitment], and Chris Howarth [Director of Football Strategy and Analytics] back in June, while the experienced Nick Hammond arrived to head up the club’s player trading activity.
But an old-school, always hands-on Moyes insists that he still has the ‘final say’ on any incomings.
Everton’s pursuit of Tomas Soucek – a pursuit very obviously driven by the man who guided West Ham to Europa Conference League glory – makes that pretty clear.
“You know, you are trying to bring in new players, improve your side if you can. There are so many different situations going on. I think we will all be glad when it gets to the point where [the window] is shut!,” Moyes begins.
“At the moment, we are all chasing around trying to find new players.
“I do a lot of work [on the transfer front]. I have always been involved. If a head coach or manager doesn’t have the final say, or doesn’t say ‘I would like that player’, I think that can make it very difficult.
“I will always believe the manager has to do that. So quite often the manager at this time of the year finds himself busy, making decisions on what players you are bringing in.
“There will be players you will be excited about bringing, saying ‘I am really looking forward to having them, and it’s what we really need’. But there will be other ones where you’ve just got to bring in players because you need them.”
Moyes driving reunion with his former London Stadium favourite
While hardly an out-and-out forward, Soucek blossomed under Moyes to become one of the most reliable goalscoring midfielders in English football.
Last season’s tally of nine Premier League strikes was his second-best since swapping Prague for East London.
“We are trying to bring in good attacking options,” Moyes added after watching Everton restricted to just two goals by a dogged Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup second-round this week. “And hopefully [we can] build on the strong defensive units we’ve had here over the years.”
Hammers News reported three weeks ago that West Ham were open to letting Tomas Soucek go before the window closes.
Emerson Palmieri, Nayef Aguerd and Guido Rodriguez will also be allowed to depart, while Edson Alvarez completed a move to Fenerbahce last week.
Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa will be Alvarez’s replacement. Portugal Under-21 playmaker Mateus Fernandes is set to join as well as Graham Potter’s midfield overhaul finally takes shape.
Southampton boss Will Still confirmed Fernandes’ impending West Ham switch on Thursday.
