West Ham United transfer news as further talks held with Juventus for Denis Zakaria
West Ham United have held further talks this week with Juventus for the signing of midfielder Denis Zakaria but are still short of an agreement, according to the Daily Mail.
Hammers are 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.
After reports emerged over the past week suggesting a loan deal was on the cards for the former on-loan Chelsea midfielder, Tuttosport reported on 8 July that a £17m transfer for the Swiss international was being worked on.
And the Daily Mail (10 July) that the Hammers are still some way to an agreement with Juventus to sign their top target.
Sensible signing
With Edson Alvarez and Joao Palhinha both reportedly emerging on Moyes’ list to kick off their post-Rice revolution at the London Stadium, West Ham United have now seemingly got their impressive rebuild off to a good start.
Zakaria represents a smart and sensible addition to the West Ham United ranks this summer.
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.
If David Moyes can return the former on-loan Chelsea star to the kind of performances he showed before his move to the Old Lady, then West Ham United certainly have a stunning player on their hands.
Zakaria shouldn’t be considered an out-an-out defensive midfielder, although he can play the role, but he’s a dynamic box-to-box presence capable of wreaking havoc on and off the ball which the Hammers could do well to possess next season.
Soucek simply does not offer the same presence which led to his decline last season, Zakaria is an upgrade and the kind of midfielder the Hammers need to compete amongst the top half of the division again.
In other West Ham news, Gianluca Scamacca’s future is up in the air after a loan move was blocked.