Anthony Onifade

Mon 1 January 2024 15:40, UK

Vladimir Coufal is furious with West Ham United over a contract dispute and may now be ready to quit the London Stadium, according to The Sun.

The UK newspaper outlet (1 January) shared that the Hammers have taken up the option to extend his deal but the fan favourite and his representatives are unhappy over the time they’ve taken to decide.

It is believed that Coufal feels he deserves better, a longer-term deal to remain at the club for the future as he believes he is integral to the Irons and is now considering his options ahead of a possible exit.

Wow

There is no arguing with Coufal’s stance given how much he’s given and contributed to David Moyes and the Hammers team especially throughout 2023 in their Europa Conference League triumph.

The Czech international has become a huge ever-present in the team and a real fan favourite with the supporters so in actual fact, is pretty much within his right to demand a longer-term deal.

However, some of his performances over the current campaign have been hit-and-miss leading to the suggestion that he may well be getting on a bit.

Despite Coufal’s stance, West Ham United are also well within their right to hold off on a longer term deal especially with the fact that the Czech isn’t getting any younger and a fresh long-term replacement may need to be sort.

Given how much Coufal has given to the club, it doesn’t need to come down to a rift between the two parties but the club do need to let the Czech know that he does hold a future but they will identifying a long-term replacement.

Whether Coufal is happy with that remains unlikely but Moyes and recruitment director Tim Steidten need to have the club’s future and sustainability in mind and handing Coufal a huge deal when he’s arguably past his best certainly isn’t the way to go.

In other West Ham United news, the club has made a “100%” Moyes sack decision, with David Sullivan set to schedule a sit-down early next year.