West Ham United to now unlock deal for Denis Zakaria amid £21.4m Juventus development
West Ham United’s record-breaking sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal will “unlock” a deal for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, according to Tuttosport.
The Italian newspaper reported on their website on Sunday (16 July) that talks have been held between the Hammers and Juve for several days, with the two clubs miles apart on their valuations.
It is understood that the Hammers want to pay just £11.1million for 26-year-old Zakaria while Juventus want between £17.1million and £21.4million for the Switzerland international, who spent last season on loan at Chelsea.
Tuttosport claims that while the sale of Rice won’t immediately lead to West Ham offering what Juve want, it does mean that the negotiations are likely to be finished soon.
Hardly exciting
West Ham have just received a British record fee for Rice yet their pursuit of Zakaria, who earns £21,000-a-week at Juve [Tuttosport], is hardly convincing.
The defensive midfielder spent last season on loan at Chelsea but barely played for the Blues as he made just 11 appearances in all competitions and only started five times in the Premier League.
Remember, Chelsea were a bottom-half club last season.
Why are we trying to sign someone who couldn’t get a game for a team that finished 12th?
Chelsea finished with just four points more than West Ham, who may have been batting against relegation but still managed to win a European trophy.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder joined Juventus in January 2022 and has barely played for them too so it doesn’t seem as though his career is on the right trajectory.
There have to be better options out there to pad out this West Ham midfield.
In other West Ham news, Eddie Howe is in transfer talks at Newcastle with the Magpies eyeing this Irons star.