West Ham United right-back Vladimir Coufal 'wants a salary that reflects his performances on the field', according to The Athletic's Roshane Thomas. 

The lowdown

West Ham signed Coufal from Slavia Prague last October in a £5.4m deal (via BBC Sport). The Czech international went on to start 34 Premier League games in his debut season in east London, contributing seven assists. Of his team-mates, only Aaron Cresswell (eight) set up more goals in 2020/21.

Coufal also averaged 2.6 clearances, 2.1 tackles and 1.6 successful aerial duels per match last term (via WhoScored), and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher included the 'brilliant' defender in his team of the season, saying that his performances summed up the Irons' campaign.

The latest

In a Q&A for The Athletic, Thomas was asked by a supporter to explain the situation with Coufal. He said that the 28-year-old, who isn't 'one of the high earners' at the London Stadium, wanted an improved deal.

Coufal's current contract runs until 2023, and there is an option to extend it by another two years.

The verdict

The Czech right-back has been one of West Ham's strongest performers since his arrival, playing an instrumental role in their successful push for European football last season, so it's hard to argue he doesn't deserve a salary hike.

He'll probably be looking at the wages paid to the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Issa Diop, which sit at £70,000-a-week each, and protesting that his contribution is far greater. The players' respective WhoScored ratings from 2020/21 would suggest that Coufal has a fair argument, with the 28-year-old earning just under £31,000 per week.

If there isn't a swift resolution, you might wonder if other Premier League clubs will begin sniffing around once they hear of his reported discontent. He has shown himself to be a dependable performer at this level, so the Irons hierarchy should perhaps take his feelings on board and ensure that his relationship with the club isn't damaged.

In other news, West Ham have set their sights on signing this defender.