West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal is not surplus to requirements at the London Stadium, despite reports to the contrary earlier this month. 

That is according to journalist Paul Brown, who has addressed transfer links which would see Coufal depart David Moyes’ side as early as the January transfer window. 

What’s the word? 

Whilst the Czech defender has not been a consistent feature for the Irons in the Premier League this season, Brown remains sure that he is a valued member of Moyes’ squad.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the 30-year-old, the journalist said: “I don’t believe he’s surplus to requirements at all because I can remember being told that when both him and [Tomas] Soucek joined the club, they kind of transformed the dressing room at West Ham with their professionalism, the way they trained and just their determination really to succeed. They set an example to a lot of the rest of the team.”

Still valued 

It has been a difficult season so far for Coufal, who has not had the luxury of regular minutes under Moyes this season. 

The 30-year-old has made just seven starts in the Premier League and has failed to impress his boss, not yet registering a solitary attacking return in sharp contrast to the seven assists that he racked up in his first season in England. 

Summer signing Thilo Kehrer has been a more regular feature at right full-back, which alludes to the fact that Coufal has lost his place in the side on the grounds of a tactical switch, rather than inadequacy at his end.

As a central defender, Kehrer is able to offer Moyes a back-three in possession, making use of the asymmetrical full-system in which one full-back sits deeper, whilst the other operates almost as a secondary winger.

Amidst Brown’s latest report, the £52k-per-week Coufal is still valued at the London Stadium, and although he has not been at this best of late, the Czech Republic international could still play a vital role for West Ham in the second half of the season.