By Dave Langton

West Ham could  trigger the one-year option in Tomas Soucek’s contract but it is no guarantee of him staying at the club long-term.

Soucek’s contract expires in 2024 but the club do hold the option to extend it by a year.

And there is a school of thought that the Hammers will trigger that option in a bid to protect Soucek’s value.

The Czech Republic international has endured a dreadful year and looks a shadow of the player he once was, and the Irons could be open to a sale this summer.

However, a player with two years left on his contract, as opposed to one, is much more valuable, and the Hammers are well aware of that fact.

There was rumoured interest from both Spurs and Manchester United in the summer but it remains to be seen if the same level of suitors will come knocking if he is placed on the transfer list at the end of the season.