West Ham are now in transfer talks with other Middle Eastern clubs over a deal for Kurt Zouma to leave, according to Soccer4U.
A report on the outlet’s website on 13 August said that following the Frenchman’s move to Shabab Al-Ahli collapsing due to a failed medical negotiations are now “ongoing” with alternative options.
The UAE-based side were expected to sign the 29-year-old for free and take over his wages [The Athletic, 8 August] to ease pressure on the budget at the London Stadium, before the twist which saw the move fall through.
Zouma was captain under David Moyes last term but has seen Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo arrive this summer to push him down the pecking order.
West Ham exit on the cards after Jean-Clair Todibo signing
Concerns over Zouma’s knees, coupled with the overall underperformance of the Irons defence last season, has helped spark a major overhaul at the back.
The starting back four under Julen Lopetegui is likely to be 75% different from Moyes’ after Kilman and Todibo arrived, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka joining from Manchester United at right-back.
Zouma may not be finished but having seen his status fall from arguably being the top option at the position to the third or fourth his reported £125,000-a-week contract [Daily Mail] doesn’t make financial sense.
Negotiating a settlement with the former Chelsea defender to cancel the final year of his deal has been suggested after move collapsed [Times, 12 August] but it would be cheaper and easier to find a new club.
That is clearly easier said than done now it is well known that there are ongoing fitness concerns, but it doesn’t necessarily end all hope when there were similar issues upon his move from Stamford Bridge three years ago [The Athletic].
He isn’t the only high-earner that the Hammers don’t want to pay to sit on the bench with Danny Ings’ massive £130,000-a-week deal far outweighing his production and the club “desperate” to get rid of him [talkSPORT, 13 August].
