Kurt Zouma fails medical as West Ham United transfer thrown into doubt amid cat jokes
Kurt Zouma’s failed medical at Shabab Al-Ahli has thrown his West Ham exit in doubt and been greeted by a joke about his previous cat-kicking controversy from a Sky Sports journalist.
After news emerged on 12 August that the defender’s move had collapsed Sanny Rudravajhala responded via X with a pun, saying: “Was always going to fail a cat scan tbf.”
According to The Times on 12 August the Irons are still looking to resurrect the move to the UAE but could now seek to reach a settlement agreement with the Frenchman to release him from the final year of his contract at the London Stadium.
Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo have both been signed this summer as the expected new starters at centre-back.
Tim Steidten has overhauled West Ham defence
The episode which saw the club fine Zouma for social media video of him kicking his cat two and a half years ago has faded from prominence in the time since but will likely follow him for the rest of his career.
The former Chelsea man rebounded to become the captain under David Moyes last season following the exit of Declan Rice, but it is his ongoing fitness which looks set to see him leave.
Repeated knee problems have slowed him down in recent seasons and as things stand it is the same injury concerns which have blocked his exit.
It is possible that he could be used as the fourth option in the centre-back rotation behind the two new signings and Konstantinos Mavropanos or Nayef Aguerd.
But with the latter two also available to leave [HITC, 10 August] it is clear that Julen Lopetegui would prefer to restock the side in his own image as much as possible.
Tim Steidten has done an outstanding job of allowing the new manager to do so already, but just as certain signings have proven to be something of an ordeal so it might prove with exits before the deadline.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka looks to be finally coming through the doors [Florian Plettenberg, 12 August], just as the technical director had to battle to get Todibo in at the second attempt from under Juventus’ noses [Sean Whetstone, 9 August], and see off hijack attempts on Luis Guilherme [Whetstone, 5 June].
The German has been able to find significant success on incoming deals now but that comes at a price and it surely requires some more to leave to ease financial pressures.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have made a concrete move for yet another “colossus” of a defender.
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