West Ham United leave Kurt Zouma in transfer limbo abroad after exit deal collapsed
Kurt Zouma has been left in “limbo” over his exit from West Ham after his collapsed move Shabab Al-Ahli, Dharmesh Sheth reports.
According to the Sky Sports journalist in an update on the broadcaster’s website on 19 August (12.15pm) the Frenchman is still in Dubai after his move there failed, but has not got any clarity over his future in the time since.
TBR Football reported on 13 August that the Irons were now speaking to multiple other clubs in the Middle East over an alternative deal for the centre-back.
Shabab Al-Ahli had been due to sign Zouma on a free transfer after agreeing to take over the final year of his contract [The Athletic, 8 August], thought to be worth £125,000-a-week according to the Daily Mail.
West Ham signed Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo this summer
The Hammers are said to have already overspent this summer [Sean Whetstone, 15 August] and yet they are still pushing to add more with transfer talks in progress for Carlos Soler from PSG [Sky Sports, 19 August].
Either way Tim Steidten surely needs to reduce some costs elsewhere to balance out such strong recruitment so finding a taker for Zouma’s contract looks necessary.
But it doesn’t look like much progress is being made on that front, which will likely put pressure on selling Nayef Aguerd instead.
Steidten is reportedly also in talks with clubs over a deal for the Moroccan defender [TBR Football, 13 August], while the club are also hoping to shift Danny Ings’ £130,000-a-week deal as well [talkSPORT, 13 August].
Zouma might be a viable option to keep in the squad behind the two new arrivals, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, and if he isn’t obliged to play as frequently his troublesome knees would have more recovery time.
But his contract may make it unviable to retain as a third of fourth option so a resolution before 30 August would be preferable.
In other West Ham news, the Europa League champions want to sign an Irons player before the deadline and have already made an approach.
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