Daniel Feliciano

Fri 30 June 2023 19:40, UK

West Ham United have tabled a £15.4m bid for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, with talks set for next week to close to deal according to Tuttosport.

The Hammers are in the market for midfielders to replace the outgoing Declan Rice, while the futures of Lucas Paqueta and Tomas Soucek are also up in the air.

But the club are already working to bolster their options by signing Switzerland international Zakaria from Juventus, with the Italian club’s sporting director due to fly into London next week to close the sale.

“Sporting director Giovanni Manna, who will fly to London next week, is currently working on several fronts and the hottest outgoing one has become the English one for Denis Zakaria,” they wrote (30 June).

“The Swiss is being sought in the Premier League, by West Ham (with whom we there have already been calls) and more.

“Details are still needed for the green light, but intermediaries and clubs are trying to find a solution that doesn’t differ much from the €18/20 million (£15.4m/17m) that Juventus wants to collect from the sale.”

Impressive

The speed at which West Ham are working to bring Zakaria in to replace Rice is impressive and certainly bodes well for the rest of the summer window.

Rice’s exit has been inevitable for a while, and it’s clear that the club have got a list of targets that they’re going to go for in a bid to get business done quickly and efficiently.

Zakaria had a tough time at Chelsea last season after joining on loan on deadline day, but when he did play he impressed.

He has great experience at the highest level in the Champions League and internationally, playing at the World Cup last year, and would be a great signing for a great price at just £15m.

We need more than just Zakaria in midfield this summer for sure, but it’s a great start in what will no doubt be a busy window for the club and David Moyes.

In other West Ham news, player admits he “will leave” current club this summer amid Hammers transfer interest.