West Ham United transfer news: ‘Head-to-head’ Denis Zakaria race on with German giants for £17m-plus loan-to-buy deal
West Ham are in an head-to-head battle with RB Leipzig to sign Denis Zakaria on a loan-to-buy deal from Juventus, according to Tutto Mercato Web.
The Swiss midfielder, 26, made 11 appearances on loan at Chelsea last season and has emerged as a prime target for Hammers technical director Tim Steidten.
The Irons appeared to be on the brink of an £8million deal when The Mirror reported on 10 July the club wanted to tie up a deal that week, but nothing has yet materialised and Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday (25 July) that a new bid had gone in from Monaco, but according to the subsequent update from Italy it is between West Ham and the Germans.
Tutto Mercato Web report: “According to what was collected by the TMW editorial staff, it is head-to-head between West Ham and Leipzig… The player is close to leaving and the formula in question is a loan with an obligation to buy.”
Juventus reportedly want a €20million fee [£17.1m] attached with bonuses to be added on top.
Rivals
If West Ham don’t get their act together it looks like a deal that appeared theirs will go elsewhere, with interest clearly mounting.
Champions League clubs already have an advantage in terms of European football, and while the Premier League has its own draw the Hammers could be at risk of squandering it.
Differences of opinion at the London Stadium over transfer targets has seen the club come across as tentative and confused in the market.
If Zakaria feels like he is half-wanted in Stratford but definitely coveted in Leipzig, or Monaco, then it wouldn’t be a major stretch to see him choose a rival option.
Juventus’ own role can’t be discounted since as the price fluctuates from one report to another it appears that the Serie A giants might be moving the goalposts.
West Ham really need to be decisive if they want the Swiss international, by putting a final offer on the table to Juve and a strong pitch to Zakaria, then if either aren’t convinced it is surely time to move on and make a clear play for an alternative.
In other West Ham news, a target at a London rival is “ready” to leave after the Irons made a bid to sign him.