Saudi Pro League target West Ham captain Kurt Zouma, ‘no movement’ on fresh contract
The Saudi Pro League have targeted West Ham captain Kurt Zouma as a potential transfer, according to 90min.
The website reported (12 October) that the Pro League identified Zouma as a desired transfer, but a deal would not be possible until January at the earliest.
Zouma will have 18 months remaining on his Hammers deal by January after signing a four-year deal in 2021, but there has been “no movement” from the club to negotiate a new contract.
Keep
The riches of the Saudi Pro League have thrown a spanner into the works of the established, if ever inflating, transfer market. Teams can fetch huge fees for dwindling stars, while the players themselves can cash in a significant pay check.
It is unclear if Zouma would be tempted by a move to the Middle East, but the club should act quickly to renew his contract to send a message that he’s not for sale.
David Moyes made Zouma his new captain after Declan Rice’s departure, a clear indication of how highly valued he has become in Stratford. He is a mainstay of the club’s defence, while his leadership capabilities have spurred the side on this season.
While the report claims that West Ham have not made any movement on a new deal, they must have it in their plans. If they were contemplating letting him go, it’s unlikely they’d have made him their captain, so a new deal with his contract running down should be imperative.
That being said, the Saudi Pro League clubs are no strangers to big transfer fees, so the Hammers could be tempted to let the former Chelsea man go if he expresses a desire to leave.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have sent staff off on a transfer mission for an in-form centre-forward.