£1.5m West Ham United clause activated for Vladimir Coufal, pundit thrilled with right-back
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie is delighted with the news Vladimir Coufal has had his contract extended at West Ham United.
Coufal, 30, joined the Irons in October 2020 on an initial three-year deal that included the option to be extended by a further two years.
The Athletic journalist Roshane Thomas reported on 29 May that the Czech Republic right-back’s deal will now run until the summer of 2024 but there is still a clause that can elongate his stay until 2025.
Coufal’s contract is worth £30,000-a-week [football.london] and McAvennie is happy to see that the club’s main man at right-back won’t be going anywhere.
“I like him,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“When he plays he’s the number one. On his day he’s the number one right-back.
“He’s a good player. The younger guys, Johnson and all that, fine. But they’re not as good as Coufal. Coufal’s the number one.
“So I’m glad they’re doing that because he can defend the boy, he can defend.
“He’s a bit like [Josip] Juranovic from Celtic (who’s now playing for Union Berlin). Good player.”
Coufal played 38 times in all competitions for the Irons this season.
He found himself in and out of David Moyes’ side earlier in the campaign but his form in recent weeks helped spark West Ham’s survival against Premier League relegation and also their victory in the Europa Conference League.
Coufal’s 12-month extension means that West Ham will now be paying at least an extra £1.5million in wages to the Czech star.