West Ham United have five days to sanction Kurt Zouma exit after PSR developments
With only five days of the summer transfer window left, it feels as though West Ham United have done most of their incoming business already.
The Hammers reportedly remain interested in signing Carlos Soler before 30 August, but there is an understanding at the London Stadium that outgoings also need to be completed [Fabrizio Romano, 23 August].
One player whose future needs to be decided sooner rather than later is exit-linked centre-back Kurt Zouma who has been surrounded by transfer speculation since the end of last season and David Moyes’ departure.
The Frenchman had appeared set to move to UAE side Shabab Al-Ahli earlier this summer, but that move collapsed leaving the defender in limbo in the final days of the transfer window [Dharmesh Sheth, 15 August].
Although the Hammers are still looking for alternative solutions to the defender’s current situation, they have not ruled out the possibility of terminating his contract as he is not seen as part of Julen Lopetegui’s plans.
Will Kurt Zouma exit West Ham ahead of transfer deadline day at the London Stadium?
Ultimately from a PSR perspective, West Ham have five days to sell Zouma otherwise they run the risk of breaching the Premier League’s financial fair play restrictions.
According to Martin Samuels [The Times, 15 August] the failure to sell the centre-back could have an “immediate” impact on the Hammers’ calculations when it comes to profit and sustainability rules.
If the Hammers are to breach the Premier League’s rules, they run the risk of being hit with a potential points deduction as was the case for both Nottingham Forest and Everton last term.
Any such punishment could derail any push for the European places that Lopetegui and Tim Steidten are plotting this season and make their heavy spending this summer all but redundant.
In short, West Ham have to find a buyer for Zouma and any other exit-linked players quickly before the window slams shut so that they can balance the books before the Premier League go looking into their accounts.
Hopefully, a club will come forward sooner rather than later to put any fears of a points deduction to rest before they have even started.
In other West Ham news, Tim Steidten has made a Jarrod Bowen approach following the win over Crystal Palace
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