Kurt Zouma set for UAE move as club lead race in West Ham United transfer update
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma looks set to make a move to Emirati side Shabab Al-Ahli this summer, according to Santi Aouna.
The Foot Mercato journalist posted on X (6 August) that at the moment, Shabab Al-Ahli are "leading the race" to sign the Hammers centre-back, ahead of other interested clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Zouma has captained the Irons in recent seasons, but with the acquisition of Max Kilman and another centre-back signing mooted [Alex Crook, 23 July], could make a move to the Middle East this summer.
Kurt Zouma transfer away from West Ham looks inevitable
Although he's been one of the first names of the team sheet (when fit) for the past three seasons, the summer of change swept in by Julen Lopetegui seems to have deemed Zouma surplus to requirements.
Kilman's arrival – after the Englishman was made captain of Wolves by no other than Lopetegui – implies that Zouma's days as the first-picked centre-back as the London Stadium are over.
Jean-Clair Todibo has also been heavily chased by Lopetegui in his attempts to create a new-look defence [Gazzetta dello Sport, 2 August], another sign pointing to the end of Zouma's time in East London.
A move to the Middle East would undoubtedly be financially appealing to Zouma, and the Hammers will also be confident in recouping a good amount of the reported £29.8million they paid for him in 2021.
Regardless of whether Shabab Al-Ahli's advanced for Zouma do pay off, the Frenchman seems set for pastures new by the start of next season, and it's increasingly clear that the Irons won't stand in his way.
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