Kurt Zouma could ditch West Ham United in January for Saudi Pro League as Ronnie Edwards transfer news emerges
West Ham United are in danger of losing Kurt Zouma in January after several interest from Saudi Arabia and his uncertain contract situation could mean he ends up walking.
ESPN reported on 13 October that The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns four clubs in the Pro League, is believed to be keen on signing the Frenchman if he cannot agree on a new deal with the Hammers.
PIF spent heavily in the summer and is willing to do the same in January, with the centre-back understood to be among their targets and his uncertain contract situation could force him to push for a fresh opportunity.
TEAMTalk reported on Tuesday 10 October that West Ham were planning to offer the Frenchman a new contract given his form but it’s now reported that the club aren’t in any rush to sign up for new terms.
Trusted West Ham news outlet Claret & Hugh (10 October) reported on their website that sources from within the Hammers have “immediately dismissed the speculation as being inaccurate” and there is “zero” rush to offer the defender a new deal at the club.
Various reports have said that David Moyes’ side will look to tie the former Chelsea man down to a new deal to prevent him from moving away in the upcoming transfer window [Fabrizio Romano, 14 October].
However, former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport (14 October) isn’t convinced that will be the case due to the Hammers’ cautious work previously.
He said: “I know there is talk about Kurt Zouma getting a new deal, but I’m still not wholly convinced by it because I think that defence is one area that West Ham might focus on quite heavily when it comes to refreshing and upgrading this squad.
“The club are generally being cautious about rushing into committing to things at the moment and that includes David Moyes, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
“I think the club want to be very sure about how this is going over the next couple of months from a player perspective and manager perspective because there are going to be some big decisions in 2024 that dictate which way this club heads.”
David Moyes made Zouma the new captain of the club after Declan Rice’s departure this summer and has played every minute of Premier League football this season, but his injury record means he is only able to play one game a week which is totally understandable.
And that is certainly why West Ham United have put contract talks on the back burner, given his worrying injury record.
The Frenchman needs to prove that he can play a 30+ game Premier League season before Kretinsky and Moyes decide whether to hand him the keys to a new long-term contract at the London Stadium.
The last time the 28-year-old featured for 30-plus games in a Premier League season was back in the 2018/19 campaign for Everton [Transfermarkt] where he became a household name where he registered two goals and two assists.
The Hammers certainly can’t be throwing money around on new contracts for players with worrying injury records throughout their careers, with no guarantees they’d feature prominently.
And it’s probably why the East Londoners may have arguably already lined up a long-term solution in Peterborough centre-back Ronni Edwards Peterborough Telegraph (16 October).
The Hammers had £4m bid knocked back for the defender in the summer and could return with another in January as Moyes and technical director Tim Steidten continue their search for some of the best English talents around.
Edwards certainly fits the bill given his tremendous upward trajectory over the past year and it’s been reported that it could take another £2m on top of the £4m to sign him which could prove better value for money than tying down Zouma to a risky lucrative long-term contract.
The Frenchman is a crucial component for Moyes so far this season but he isn’t irreplaceable and whether both parties can come to an amicable agreement or not is uncertain.
The Saudi Pro League may just prove too tempting in the end for the Hammers fan favourite and a January exit cannot be ruled out.
In other West Ham news, a journalist has revealed what he’s been told about the club’s plans in the January transfer window and an “alternate” role for one big-money London Stadium signing.