West Ham United transfer news as Denis Zakaria update emerges amid negotiations
The distance between West Ham and Juventus regarding the future of Denis Zakaria is no longer so distant, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The publication noted that the Serie A club want €25million (£21million) for the midfielder, but the Hammers are keen on a cheaper fee.
The two clubs are currently negotiating, and while a permanent transfer is not exactly close, La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that it is closer than it was before.
“Juve and West Ham are negotiating: and if it is true that they are not yet close to closing for the permanent transfer of Denis Zakaria, it is equally true that the distance between the parties no longer seems so distant,” according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Juve have put him on the market and West Ham are strongly interested: the offer from the English for now is €20million including bonuses, but the discussion is open and constantly evolving.”
Wanted man
Zakaria looks certain to leave the Italian club this summer, but his final destination remains unknown.
His days at the Serie A giants were perhaps numbered from the moment he joined Chelsea on loan last season, while a permanent move to Stamford Bridge was never really on the cards given his disappointing campaign at the West London club.
But it seems that West Ham are now keen to give the midfielder a fresh start to his career, which definitely still has plenty of potential.
Zakaria would have very big boots to fill in the Hammers midfield in the absence of the outgoing Declan Rice, but regular playing time would be on the cards at the London Stadium to allow him to do just that.
West Ham will definitely have the money to bring him to East London this summer, but perhaps they want to get the cheapest deal possible in order to still have plenty of funds left over to strengthen in other areas.
In other West Ham news, the transfer stance of a player at one European giant has been explained as Hammers dialogue news emerges.