West Ham star's agent slams club as fury over new contract puts future in doubt

02 January 2024 , 15:41

383     0

Vladimir Coufal's West Ham future has been thrown into doubt

Vladimir Coufal’s agent claims the West Ham full back is unhappy with his pay packet and wants the Czech star to be offered a rise and new long-term contract in east London.

The Hammers have activated a one-year contract extension on Coufal’s current terms, understood to be around £35,000 per week, but Karol Kisel told Czech media that his client “certainly deserves a better salary” and the 31-year-old is “not happy about it.”

West Ham's decision to activate the 12-month extension will keep Coufal under contract until the end of next season - without it he would have been allowed to begin speaking with clubs now about a free transfer in the summer.

Coufal has returned to top form under David Moyes this season. He has started all 19 of their Premier League games - before facing Brighton at London Stadium tonight - and has provided five league assists. Moyes has been full of praise for Coufal too, in particular praising his work ethic.

But speaking to Czech site inFotbalu, Kisel said: "Cuf certainly deserves a better salary from the club and a new, improved, longer-term contract for his long-term performances in the West Ham jersey, in addition to the title in the Conference League.

Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush

"So far, even after negotiations, West Ham's management sees it differently and has only exercised the option of a one-year extension. Cuf is not happy about it as we expected a better offer."

West Ham announced yesterday that their other Czech star Tomas Soucek had penned a new and improved deal that runs until the summer of 2027.

West Ham announced a new deal for Tomas Soucek earlier this week (Getty Images)

Moyes, meanwhile, says he remains relaxed around his own future. His contract runs out at the end of the season. At the beginning of December sources suggested West Ham were not planning to offer him a new deal.

But after an impressive run of form, including progression to the Europa League round of 16, they have made a U-turn and are now planning to table a two-and-a-half-year offer. Moyes says he plans to speak with chairman David Sullivan at the end of January.

Of immediate concern to the manager will be facing Brighton tonight without Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta and the explosive Mohammed Kudus, who is waiting for the results of a scan before joining Ghana for the Africa Cup of Nations. Defender Nayef Aguerd is also absent after joining up with Morocco ahead of that tournament.

Alan Smith