Loan-to-buy transfer on cards for Denis Zakaria as West Ham United ready to splash Declan Rice cash
West Ham United will push ahead with a loan deal for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria following the expected big-money departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal, according to The Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath.
Arsenal and West Ham United reached a full agreement over the £105 million transfer of Declan Rice, with the midfielder set to undergo a medical in the coming days [The Telegraph, 5 June].
And the Hammers are now set to splash the Rice cash on some new signings as David Moyes looks to rebuild his squad through the post-Rice era, and former on-loan Chelsea midfielder Zakaria has emerged as a top target to bolster the midfield.
According to The Telegraph [6 July], talks are set to revolve around whether Zakaria can arrive on an initial loan before the deal is made permanent in a year’s time.
Sensible move
Conor Gallagher, Edson Alvarez and Joao Palhinha have all reportedly emerged on Moyes’ list to kick off their post-Rice revolution at the London Stadium, but West Ham United are already actively working on Zakaria which represents a very sensible transfer.
It seems as if the Hammers will be getting Zakaria on an initial loan deal with a permanent deal on the cards next year should he impress, and such a signing clearly shows the Irons know what they are doing as they look to move past their former captain.
The Swiss international certainly can’t fill the Rice hole by himself, but he arguably represents an upgrade on exit-linked Tomas Soucek who suffered a dramatic decline in his form and performance levels throughout the last season and is something the Irons simply have to address with his contract up in 2024.
Zakaria, 26, is of a perfect age and profile for West Ham United to exploit right now, plus his European and Premier League experience certainly represents such sensible and smart recruitment by the Hammers.
They won’t be spending much on the deal which leaves loads of room for Moyes to spend the cash on a capable replacement for Rice alongside the loan signing of Zakaria which is superb succession planning already from the East Londoners.
In other West Ham news, one senior club figure is facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium following the appointment of Technical Director Tim Steidten.