Tomas Soucek's current situation at West Ham is "worrying" for the club, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The 48-cap international has been a key figure at the London Stadium since joining on an initial loan deal in January 2020.

What's the latest news involving Soucek?

Over the past two years, Soucek has become one of the first names on the teamsheet under David Moyes. He has made 95 appearances for the Irons in all competitions, scoring 18 goals.

Indeed, last term he was in sparkling form as he netted 10 Premier League goals to help West Ham to a top-six finish.

Given how well he has done in east London, it appeared that Soucek extending his stay at the club was likely to be a formality.

However, it has recently been reported that contract talks have been put on hold until the summer, when the £40.5m-rated midfielder will have just two years left on his current deal.

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What has Jones said about Soucek?

Soucek's midfield partner, Declan Rice, has been heavily linked with a move away from West Ham this summer.

Jones believes the Hammers must not lose Soucek and Rice at the same time, and feels the club need to step up and tie Soucek down to a new deal.

When asked about contract talks with Soucek being shelved for now, Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s a bit of a worrying one for West Ham. Let’s be honest, though, West Ham cannot afford to lose Soucek and Rice in this next transfer window. So, something’s going to have to be done.”

Would West Ham be back to square one if they lost Soucek and Rice this summer?

It would be a devastating blow for West Ham if Soucek and Rice both departed the club this summer.

Under Moyes, the team have done exceptionally over the last two seasons to turn themselves from a side that was battling relegation to European contenders.

Soucek and Rice's partnership has been a huge part of West Ham's success, with the duo rarely being rested due to how important they are to the side.

If the pair did move on, West Ham would still have the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio to call upon, meaning that they may not slip right back into a relegation dogfight.

However, it would be hard to see them continuing to compete with the best sides in the league, and with Mark Noble retiring at the end of the season, Moyes would have to rebuild his entire central midfield.

This would be a nightmare scenario for the Scotsman, and one that West Ham simply cannot allow to happen.