West Ham is looking to enhance its squad by signing Guido Rodriguez, who could significantly upgrade its midfield. Meanwhile, Tomas Soucek is considering a last-minute departure from the club as the transfer window nears its end. Soucek’s potential exit could be influenced by his diminishing role with the arrival of Rodriguez and the presence of other midfield options like Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse.
West Ham could secure an immediate upgrade by signing Rodriguez
West Ham have strengthened their midfield ahead of Julen Lopetegui’s debut season by signing Guido Rodriguez on a free transfer.
In Lopetegui’s system, being comfortable on the ball is crucial, and West Ham addressed this in the transfer window by strengthening their defense and adding Rodriguez to the midfield. Midfielders must impact the game offensively and defensively, contributing to the initial build-up and the final phase of attacks.
Rodriguez played in 29 matches across all competitions for Real Betis last season, recording two goals and one assist and helping to keep eight clean sheets during his 2,241 minutes on the pitch.
Is West Ham set to sign another midfielder?
Fabrizio Romano reports that West Ham have hit a setback in their efforts to sign former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, who has recently been linked with the club. The Frenchman currently earns over £400k per week in Saudi Arabia, a figure West Ham cannot match.
Atlético Madrid has recently expressed interest, but according to Romano, Al-Ittihad’s position remains unchanged: “not for sale.”
Kante played in 44 matches across all competitions for Al Ittihad last season, scoring four goals, providing six assists, and helping keep 15 clean sheets during his 3,822 minutes on the field.
Kante vs. Rodriguez: A comparison
Kante, 33, and Rodriguez, 29, would bring valuable experience to West Ham, with each having captained their respective teams at some point last season.
One key advantage Kante has over Rodriguez is his extensive Premier League experience. Having spent most of his career in the league, Kante has won multiple titles and individual awards across 227 appearances.
Kante’s most recent Premier League appearance was on June 5, 2023, where he provided an assist in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth. Although he played just ten games that season, some of his per-90 statistics remained impressive.
Wayne Rooney once described Kante as “Yaya Toure and Claude Makelele rolled into one,” you can see aspects of both players in his performance and metrics. With an average of 3.86 progressive carries per 90 minutes, Kante brings the same dynamic drive from midfield that Toure did.
Additionally, Kante’s 8.82 ball recoveries per 90, 2.50 tackles per 90, and 1.71 blocks highlight his exceptional defensive capabilities. These stats demonstrate his consistent ability to execute defensive actions, safeguard his team’s backline, and cover ground more effectively than most.
While Rodriguez is quite skilled and ranks comparably to Kante in several metrics, especially defensively, Kante would bring exceptional dynamism to the Hammers’ midfield. His ability to advance the ball through passing and carrying, his defensive prowess, and his proficiency in managing transitions would offer an incredible boost.
Tomas Soucek is poised to seek a last-minute departure from West Ham United
The news website reported on Wednesday (August 14) that there is a “serious possibility” of Soucek, 29, concluding his four-and-a-half-year stint at the London Stadium as the summer transfer window draws to a close.
Guido Rodriguez’s arrival on a free transfer could push Soucek further down Julen Lopetegui’s midfield hierarchy, especially with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse already appearing ahead of him.
West Ham is reportedly open to selling the Czech international if he expresses dissatisfaction.
Is Soucek set to leave West Ham United?
It wouldn’t be surprising if Soucek were to depart the London Stadium before the transfer window closes at 11 pm on August 30.
Last season, the former Slavia Prague midfielder was crucial for David Moyes, making 52 appearances across all competitions and starting 34 Premier League matches.
However, with Lopetegui bringing in Rodriguez and already having Alvarez and Ward-Prowse as central or defensive midfield options, Soucek may need more playing time.
Soucek started and played all 90 minutes in the Betway Cup victory over Celta Vigo, where he also scored during the penalty shootout.
We’ll have a clearer picture of Soucek’s situation once the team news is announced for this weekend’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa.
If he is benched, he might push for a transfer.
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