Teamwork makes the dream work

Everton able to bid for “on fireplace” £19m star

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Everton‘s switch window has been a captivating mixture of ambition, pragmatism, and sentiment.

Below David Moyes, the Toffees are working arduous to reshape their squad following the departures of a number of key figures, together with Ashley Younger, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium has already seen recent faces arrive, with Moyes bringing in expertise comparable to Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor from Chelsea, Tyler Dibling from Southampton, and Jack Grealish from Manchester Metropolis.

The latter made a right away impression, offering two assists within the membership’s 2–0 Premier League victory over Brighton.

Momentum has slowly begun to construct.

Everton recovered from an opening-day defeat at a raucous Elland Street with back-to-back wins: the triumph in opposition to Brighton and an expert 2–0 dispatch of Mansfield City within the EFL Cup.

For Moyes, nonetheless, the duty of reinforcing his midfield stays pressing.

Everton supervisor David Moyes

The Scottish supervisor has by no means hidden his desire for industrious, disciplined footballers who mix physicality with tactical intelligence.

It’s no shock, then, that his newest goal occurs to be a participant with whom he shares a deep private {and professional} bond.

This towering expertise may effectively be solid within the function as soon as performed so successfully at Goodison by Marouane Fellaini.

Everton plotting transfer for Moyes reunion

Experiences from Soccer Insider recommend Everton are getting ready an improved bid for a participant Moyes is aware of higher than most: Tomáš Souček.

The Czech Republic worldwide, now 30, was first launched to English soccer by Moyes throughout his second spell at West Ham in 2020.

What adopted was a extremely productive partnership.

Below Moyes’ steerage, Souček turned a mainstay within the Hammers’ midfield, making over 200 appearances and establishing himself as probably the most dependable performers within the Premier League.

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek 

West Ham, nonetheless, are reluctant sellers.

Having already rejected Everton’s opening provide, the East London membership are holding agency at a valuation of £19 million.

Together with his contract working till 2028, they keep leverage, although the current arrivals of Mateus Fernandes from Southampton and Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco have added appreciable depth to their midfield division.

That recruitment drive, coupled with a poor begin to the marketing campaign which has seen the Irons lose closely to Sunderland and Chelsea, may create circumstances wherein a deal turns into possible.

From Everton’s perspective, the transfer would symbolize a deliberate try and reintroduce a profile of participant Goodison Park has missed since Fellaini left for Manchester United in 2013.

Marouane-Fellaini

Experiences recommend the participant himself is eager on the transfer, keen for an additional spell underneath Moyes in what may very well be one of many extra emotive transfers of the summer time window.

Why Soucek could be Moyes’ new Fellaini

The parallels between Souček and Fellaini go effectively past stature.

Moyes’ Everton sides of the late 2000s have been constructed on work ethic and tactical self-discipline, however they have been additionally elevated by Fellaini’s distinctive capability to blur the road between midfield and assault.

fellaini-everton

The Belgian was able to breaking apart play, bullying defenders, and popping up with essential objectives – qualities Souček has replicated at West Ham.

Throughout his West Ham tenure, the towering midfielder was trusted implicitly by the Scottish coach.

Souček has netted 42 occasions and registered 13 assists throughout 248 video games for West Ham, whereas additionally writing his title into the membership’s historical past books by serving to them win the Europa Convention League in Prague – his hometown – in opposition to Fiorentina.

Tomáš Souček – Stats 2024/25

Matches Performed

35

Objectives

9

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

9

Progressive Passes

74

Supply: FBref

On a purely footballing stage, the Czech worldwide seems to be a wonderful addition to Moyes’ evolving aspect.

His statistical profile underscores precisely why Everton are urgent to safe his providers.

Standing at 1.92m, Souček has lengthy been considered one of many Premier League’s most dominant aerial presences.

In keeping with FBref, final season he averaged 3.47 aerial duels received per 90 minutes, a determine that locations him among the many handiest midfielders in Europe with regards to contesting the ball within the air.

For an Everton aspect that depends on set-piece alternatives, this might show invaluable.

His affect, nonetheless, extends far past his heading means.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite

His work fee is phenomenal, as mirrored in his defensive and transitional metrics.

He recorded 1.61 tackles per 90, complemented by 1.44 blocks, offering dependable cowl in central areas.

The place Fellaini as soon as supplied an outlet for direct balls, shielding possession and driving his group ahead, Souček presents the identical avenue in a modernised kind.

West Ham's Tomas Soucek-1

He’s adept at progressing the ball by way of carries, averaging 9 progressive carries per 90, which speaks to his means to interrupt strains and drive his group ahead.

Whereas his passing accuracy of 73.8% isn’t elite, his 74 progressive passes per 90 underline a willingness to take dangers and transfer play vertically, one thing Moyes has traditionally inspired.

Within the last third, Souček continues to be a constant objective menace.

Averaging 1.93 photographs per 90, with 0.60 of these on the right track, he boasts a shot accuracy fee of almost 31%.

That productiveness translated into ten direct objective involvements final season, spectacular numbers for a participant typically tasked with the much less glamorous defensive aspect of midfield work.

His means to time late runs into the penalty space stays one in every of his defining attributes, as highlighted by Joe Cole’s description of him being “on fireplace” when he netted in three consecutive video games for the Hammers in 2023.

For Everton, this combination of stamina, energy, and objective menace would provide a dimension presently lacking of their midfield.

The lack of Doucouré, who mixed business with ahead penetration, has left a void that wants filling.

Abdoulaye-Doucoure
Abdoulaye Doucoure

Souček is without doubt one of the few real looking choices who can present comparable output whereas additionally bringing confirmed Premier League pedigree and management qualities honed throughout greater than 80 caps for the Czech Republic.

The emotional aspect shouldn’t be neglected both. Moyes isn’t merely chasing a purposeful squad piece; he’s focusing on one in every of his most trusted operators.

The Fellaini comparability could really feel nostalgic, however it’s apt.

Each gamers are midfielders who thrive when trusted as disruptors somewhat than facilitators, who can dominate aerially and arrive late within the field to devastating impact.

Everton followers know higher than most how priceless that may be. Souček’s familiarity with Moyes’ tactical calls for means the variation interval could be minimal.

The Everton supervisor has all the time valued loyalty and understanding, and in that respect, the midfielder is a tailored signing.