West Ham United further Denis Zakaria talks scheduled as ‘positive’ update shared
West Ham United are planning more talks with Denis Zakaria after making “positive” contact with the former Chelsea loanee, according to former Bleacher Report journalist, Dean Jones.
The Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano revealed (via Twitter, 22 June) that the 26-year-old is free to leave Juventus during the summer window.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has suggested the Hammers have identified him as someone who can screen the back four.
“Zakaria is on the move and this would be a good move for West Ham despite the fact he didn’t impact the Premier League last season. The club are planning more talks around this after initial contact was positive,” he said (27 June).
“When losing Declan Rice, there are so many different assets you have to start making up for and while Zakaria definitely can not make up for all of those things, West Ham have identified him as someone that can reproduce the screening job and allow others around him to flourish.”
Get it done
Zakaria, along with another top-quality midfielder would certainly soften the blow of losing Rice. The 24-year-old appears to be close to securing his move away from the London Stadium, with Arsenal submitting a £100million plus £5million in add ons bid.
That is somewhere near the valuation David Sullivan has slapped on the England star and with Rice desperate to move to The Emirates, a move could well be completed fairly quickly once a deal is agreed.
The sooner an agreement is reached the better. David Moyes is likely to be given a fairly substantial transfer kitty heading into the new season, but incomings will be on hold until Rice’s departure is confirmed.
It’s believed the main issue surrounding the Gunners’ latest offer is the time taken to complete the upfront payments. West Ham, rightfully, want as much of the £100million paid in one instalment.
Mikel Arteta evidently wants to land Rice and that could put West Ham in a good position. Over the next couple of days, it feels as if some sort of resolution will be found.