West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal not for sale in January amid strong exit links
West Ham right-back Vladimir Coufal is not for sale in the January window, as reported by Football.London.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth told GiveMeSport on 20 November that Coufal could be allowed to leave the London club in the January window.
Sky Sports journalist Marlon Irlbacher reported (14 November) Coufal had held positive talks with Bayer Leverkusen, but Football London has quashed those rumours.
They suggest that no talks have taken place with Leverkusen over the sale of Coufal, but there is an “air of uncertainty” surrounding the future of the 30-year-old defender.
Exit unlikely
Coufal has a contract at the club until next summer, but the Hammers have the option to extend his contract by two more years.
Thus, if they want to get money from his sale, the January window provides the last chance to do so.
Sheth suggests that the Hammers are happy to let the Czech Republic international leave in the window, but chances are high that the club will keep him.
The full-back has made seven starts in the Premier League this season and has been an unused substitute in six of the last eight games for West Ham.
It makes sense for him to move elsewhere in search of regular games. However, the injury to Kurt Zouma could change David Moyes’s plans for January.
Zouma has undergone surgery on knee issues, and no timeframe has been placed for his return. Thilo Kehrer is likely to play as centre-back, which means Moyes will have to rely on both Coufal and Ben Johnson for the right-back role.
Having said that, if the Hammers find any good player at the right price, Coufal could be sold as well.