da cassino： Aston Villa have been tipped to make a move for West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek, with the Czech Republic international facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium.

What’s the word?

da betsson： According to journalist Ashley Preece – in a Q & A for Birmingham Mail – sporting director Johan Lange is currently “exploring” potential targets ahead of a summer move, with the Hammers ace believed to be one figure of interest who is possibly up for grabs.

Asked if the Midlands outfit are in the market for a new central midfielder, Preece stated: “Yes, Villa are looking to add more quality in CM. Johan Lange exploring options. Tomas Soucek is said to be available…”.

This follows reports that the 27-year-old is of interest to Villa, along with a handful of other Premier League clubs, with the suggestion being that David Moyes could be willing to cash in on the 52-cap giant in the current transfer window.

Supporters will love it

Amid all the talk regarding a possible departure for current first-team regular Douglas Luiz – who has just a year left on his existing deal – Villa supporters will love hearing that Steven Gerrard and co are being active regarding a potential replacement, with Soucek seemingly an ideal candidate to fill the void.

Dubbed “unplayable” by Yannick Bolasie, the former Slavia Prague ace – who joined the Irons on an initial loan deal in January 2020 – has been integral to his current club’s remarkable resurgence in thr last couple of years, forging a formidable midfield partnership with Declan Rice.

While the Englishman has often stolen the limelight in that time, the 6 foot 4 colossus has undoubtedly been impactful in his own right, having chipped in with 20 goal contributions in 86 top-flight games so far for the east London outfit.

That haul includes a particularly impressive tally of ten league goals from the 2020/21 campaign as the Hammers secured Europa League football, while he provided a respectable five league goals last term from his defensive midfield berth.

A sheer menace in both boxes, the £40.5m-rated monster unsurprisingly ranks in the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area – and also in the top 1% for clearances made and the top 2% for aerial duels won – among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing both his attacking and defensive prowess.

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A forceful and imposing presence in the centre of the park, the £47k-per-week brute would provide some much-needed steel to a Villa side which had been lacking a bona fide defensive-minded midfielder last term, with the aforementioned Luiz deployed as something of a makeshift stop-gap in the holding role.

While perhaps not the most glamorous addition, Soucek would offer a reliable and consistent asset for Gerrard’s side, with supporters set to be delighted if Villa can make another statement of intent this summer by poaching the player from a club who have been on the rise in recent years.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez