Vladimir Coufal is keen to stick around in England despite his West Ham heartbreak.
That’s because the 32-year-old impending free agent has seen his son, Niclas, sign for the Hammers’ academy.
Coufal may be leaving West Ham[/caption]
@coufalova.hanaBut his son has just joined the club[/caption]
Leeds and Everton are among the clubs tracking the Czech right back after he was told his contract is not being extended, as exclusively revealed by talkSPORT.
His former manager, David Moyes – now of Everton – is a big admirer of the Hammers’ Czech cult hero while newly-promoted Leeds want to add more top-flight experience to their squad.
Fulham had a number of bids rejected for Coufal on the last day of the winter transfer window and may also revisit their interest.
Coufal is widely considered a West Ham legend, having racked up 177 appearances since his £5.4million signing from Slavia Prague in 2020.
Among those was the 2023 Conference League win under Moyes – West Ham’s first silverware since 1980 and first European trophy since 1965.
A regular in his first four seasons at the London Stadium, Coufal has been usurped this season by new arrival Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right back.
The 27-year-old joined in a £15million deal from Manchester United and has racked up 36 appearances this season, the second most in the team, with Coufal 13th on 23.
Coufal joined West Ham six months after international teammate Tomas Soucek, with whom he won the Conference League and also made the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.
Yet this campaign West Ham are set for their worst since returning to the Premier League in 2012, currently sitting in 15th in the table.
That’s also left Soucek’s future in doubt, with Moyes also a fan of the midfielder.
There are less questions over Coufal’s landing spot, though, with his agent, and former Reading star, Stephen Hunt tasked with finding an English landing spot.
Son Niclas has just started his career at West Ham’s academy, and Coufal shared the news in a heartfelt message.
“Dreams come true if we work hard to achieve them,” he wrote on Instagram.
“You want to be like daddy since you have started to walk with a ball, and now you are on the path you have chosen to take.
“We will support you every single day, my love. The whole family is proud of you.
“Keep enjoying the game, work hard and have a lot of experiences on your football journey. We love you.”
