'He's even better than Bruno Fernandes for me!': Outstanding Tomas Soucek is 'pound for pound the signing of the season', claims ex-West Ham striker Carlton Cole after Czech star's impressive start to the season 

• Tomas Soucek has scored seven goals from defensive midfield so far this season 
• The tall Czech international has had a transformative effect on the Hammers
• Ex-West Ham striker Carlton Cole compared him favourably to Bruno Fernandes 

Former West Ham striker Carlton Cole has declared Tomas Soucek to be pound for pound better than Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes.

Soucek joined the Hammers on loan from Slavia Prague in last January, and impressed enough for the club to sign him on a £19million permanent deal and four-year contract.

The Czech international has been in excellent form, adding an imposing presence in midfield and in both penalty areas, scoring seven times already this season.

And ex-Hammers target man Cole believes Soucek was a better transfer than Fernandes when you take into account the Portuguese's £67million fee. 

He said on Sky Sports: 'He's been immense this season. For me, he's obviously the signing of any club so far this season out of every club, pound for pound. 

'You talk about Bruno Fernandes being so impactful, in the Man United but for me, pound for pound, he's been even better than Fernandes.

'He's been everywhere. whenever he's on that pitch he breeds confidence for every West Ham player and every West Ham person connected to the club.'

'I wasn't expecting to have a goalscoring midfielder at West Ham and he's just come in and done the job. He's been unbelievable and everyone's taken confidence from his performances so far.

Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp added: 'He's been the Fellaini for them. David Moyes always liked that big midfielder coming into the box, score goals.'

'He's been outstanding and when you've got a player like that in your team, especially as the driving force in midfield, he's enabled to chip in with the goals and with Declan Rice around him, it's opened up the game for him too,' Cole concluded.

After Sunday's match against last year's champions Liverpool, David Moyes' in-form side host Aston Villa on Wednesday before travelling to Fulham on Saturday.