West Ham United’s Vladimír Coufal has left the door open to join Everton after being frustrated over a failed move to Fulham.
The right-back is currently with the Czech Republic, preparing for the World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar later today.
Tuesday’s edition of MF DNES has published an interview with the 32-year-old, during which he shares his frustration at West Ham.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s arrival last summer saw the Czech Republic international struggle for regular game time this season. He’s made eight starts in the Premier League and his appearances were partly limited due to an injury.
“I admit that I’m sorry. My position is not ideal, and I need to know where I am. Due to poor results, coach Lopetegui, with whom I started to talk, left. He was fired when I was playing in the starting lineup against Liverpool and Manchester City. He liked my stubborn style,” he said.
The fullback’s situation hasn’t improved since the Hammers replaced Julen Lopetegui with Graham Potter in January. In fact, the current West Ham manager has moved him from his preferred position as a right-back to the heart of the defence.
“Who [Potter] immediately changed the formation and moved me from the side of the defence to the centre-back, which is a position I’ve never played. Despite that, I think I managed those games. But then I wouldn’t have played anyway, and I got injured,” Coufal explained.
The defender explained Fulham tried to sign him on deadline day of the winter market, when he was on the pitch for 72 minutes in West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
“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,” he added.
“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 was then asked if his agent Karol Kisel was impatient, to which he replied: “Fulham offered great conditions. Karol asked: Would you like it? And I said: Why not, if there’s no use at West Ham.”
A move to Fulham would have seen him continue to live in London, but West Ham weren’t keen on sanctioning his exit. This had ‘annoyed’ the experienced right-back.
“I’ll be 33 and it made sense to me, although I love West Ham and could imagine finishing my career there,” Coufal said.
“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.”
MF DNES pointed out there’s been a talk of Everton interest, where former West Ham manager David Moyes is currently in charge.
On a potential move to Everton as a free agent in the summer, he said: “When I am free, anything can happen. 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.”
