West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal has opened up on transfer interest from fellow Premier League clubs Fulham and Everton.
The 32-year-old has spent almost five full seasons at the London Stadium and has made a total of 173 appearances across all competitions.
Coufal featured regularly under former boss David Moyes and was part of the Hammers side who won the Conference League in 2022-23.
However, Coufal has been limited to just eight starts and seven substitute outings in the Premier League this season and has fallen behind in-form Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was signed last summer from Manchester United.
The Czech Republic international has revealed that Fulham attempted to sign him on deadline day at the beginning of February, but the move was complicated by the fact that he played 72 minutes in a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with only a few hours of the winter transfer window remaining.
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Coufal received “great” offer from Fulham in winter window
Marco Silva‘s side had identified Coufal as an ideal right-back target to fill the void left by Kenny Tete, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, but the transfer ultimately failed to materialise.
“I’m torn about all this because West Ham didn’t let me go to Fulham on deadline day. I guess not many people know about this,” Coufal told Czech news outlet Mlada fronta Dnes, as quoted by Sport Witness.
“In the dressing room after the match [against Chelsea], I look at my phone and there are four missed calls from my agent. Plus, a message: ‘Call me immediately’.”
Coufal added: “Fulham offered great conditions. Karol [Kisel, Coufal’s agent] asked: ‘Would you like it?’ I said: ‘Why not, if there’s no use at West Ham’.”
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The defender was left frustrated by West Ham’s decision not to sanction his exit, saying: “I’ll be 33 and it made sense to me, although I love West Ham and could imagine finishing my career there. As for Fulham, I would stay in the Premier League and even in London. We really like it there.
“My son has started playing in the West Ham academy and is doing better than I expected. My daughter will be going to school next year. How do I explain to them that we are moving to a completely different place? That is why I need to hear from West Ham so that I can consider what to do next.”
Coufal responds to Everton interest amid West Ham contract uncertainty
Coufal, who is out of contract at West Ham at the end of June, has also responded to speculation over a summer move to Everton, who are now managed by Moyes.
“When I am free, anything can happen,” said Coufal. “But my priority is England, the best league in the world. I want to prove to myself week after week that I have what it takes.”
Everton’s interest in Coufal comes at a time when both Seamus Coleman, 36, and Ashley Young, 39, have less than three months remaining on their contracts at Goodison Park, while centre-back Jake O’Brien has predominantly been used at right-back since the arrival of Moyes.
