Simon Jordan critical of West Ham pursuit of Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma
Simon Jordan has questioned the transfer policy at West Ham with the east London club in pursuit of Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.
Jim White told talkSPORT [17/08/21] on Tuesday that West Ham have been joined by bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign the 26-year-old France international.
He said: “We know that West Ham are after Kurt Zouma, we know that Simon.
“We hear this morning that Tottenham might be in for him as well, they might show their hand for Kurt Zouma because at the moment there is a bit of disparity in terms of what the player wants to be paid and what another Premier League club will pay him.”
“Kurt Zouma, I don’t know,” ex-Crystal Palace chairman Jordan replied.
“He’s a decent centre-back, but it astounds me. I’m not suggesting Tottenham and West Ham are bonafide competitors for the top four positions, but if you’re trying to reach that level and a player isn’t considered good enough I wonder why you think he’s good enough for your level.
“I’m not one of those that looks at Kurt Zouma and think ‘brilliant centre-back’. I think he’s alright.
“West Ham, I would have thought their interest would have been in other positions because it surprises me that their focal point is a centre-half.”
Lingard, anyone?
So, by Jordan’s logic, because someone isn’t a guaranteed starter for the Champions League winners, they won’t be good enough for West Ham.
What sort of line of thought is that?
Even taking the Champions League element to the side, Jesse Lingard joined from Manchester United midway through last season and ripped it up at the London Stadium, but he won’t get back into their side.
Meanwhile, Zouma has made 52 Premier League appearances over the past two seasons, and he scored five times during the 2020/21 campaign.
Sure, he didn’t play in the Champions League final, but he still played five games en route to that point, while he started last week’s Super Cup victory over Villarreal.
He has to compete with the likes of Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger for a place in the Chelsea starting XI, so there’s no great shame in not featuring every game.
Zouma would be a super signing for the Irons and he would instantly command a first-team berth, so we’re desperate for David Moyes to make this one happen.
In other West Ham news, Graeme Souness & Micah Richards hailed this ‘Brilliant’ Irons ace after Sunday’s 4-2 win v Newcastle.
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