What West Ham's next contract priority is likely to be after Jarrod Bowen agreement

West Ham can't afford to rest on their laurels after Jarrod Bowen agreed to stay at the club in the Championship.

The Hammers confirmed on Friday that the skipper would be staying, ending speculation over his future in a significant breakthrough.

He will be vital for their promotion push as they try to get back into the Premier League.

West Ham Zone has covered the inner details, how the Hammers convinced Bowen that his future was in East London.

Now, Nuno Espirito Santo must do the same with another one of his star players whose future is uncertain.

Tomas Soucek has confirmed that he intends to stick around, but his contract situation is delicate.

What is Tomas Soucek's contract situation at West Ham?

Soucek signed a contract extension in January 2024 that means that his deal expires in June 2027.

The Czech Republic star posted on Instagram on 30 June that the Irons have been on his mind since the season ended.

He also said that he will do everything in his power to help them secure an immediate return to the top-flight.

However, if they do that, he would not play a part in the 2027-28 campaign, as it stands.

Therefore, getting the 31-year-old to sign a new deal should be the obvious priority for Nuno's side after completing the Bowen deal.

Why could Soucek situation come back to bite West Ham

Soucek was not the problem for the Hammers last season, as they were relegated.

He notched five goals in 35 matches, including a crucial one in the 2-1 win over Everton in the closing stages of the campaign.

He won 51.7 per cent of his ground duels and 55.7 per cent of aerial battles, per Fotmob data.

The Czech ace completed 1.76 tackles, 2.70 recoveries and 3.40 clearances per 90 minutes in the league last season.

Those numbers could skyrocket in the second tier, and he could prove that he is still a valuable asset for the E20 outfit.

If that happens, and he is not contracted for the next campaign, he will likely have a number of suitors when he is available as a free agent.

It seems like a mistake for Nuno and Co to let that happen, as he still has plenty to offer in the middle of the pitch.