David Moyes is set for surprise showdown talks with West Ham United star Kurt Zouma over his big form worry.
That’s according to a West Ham insider who claims the Hammers boss is seriously concerned by the drop-off in his £29m signing’s performance levels.
Zouma quickly became a fan favourite with his brilliant performanes alongside Angelo Ogbonna after signing from Chelsea.
The Hammers looks seriously solid with Zouma and Ogbonna at right and left centre back respectively at the start of last season.
The pair struck up a strong bond on and off the pitch with Zouma quickly nicknaming Ogbonna ‘Uncle Ange’.
So much so West Ham surged up to third in the table in November off the back of an eight-game winning streak.
Ogbonna’s season-ending ACL injury that month saw Zouma shift across to left centre-back.
And while he continued to be a consistently high level performer, he was not quite as comfortable or confident on that side.
It showed as West Ham struggled for any kind of consistency.
When Zouma’s cat kicking actions came to light in February, Moyes stuck by the Frenchman who seemed to have new focus as a result.
But his performances did tail off and he simply did not turn up when West Ham played Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final – although he was not alone on that front.
Well now Moyes is set for surprise showdown talks with West Ham star Zouma over his big form worry.
That’s according to a West Ham insider speaking to Claret and Hugh.
“David Moyes has been concerned with Kurt Zouma’s performances in recent weeks and looks ready to hold talks with the defender this summer…” Claret and Hugh claim.
“Moyes intends to speak with Zouma about his displays this summer, and will try to map out a plan for the future for the Frenchman.
“At this point, there is no suggestion that Moyes wants to sell Zouma but there is a concern that his performances will need to improve.”
Let’s hope that once the cat case saga is out of the way – the court hearing was adjourned until next Wednesday – and back in his preferred right centre-back role next season, Zouma can rediscover his best form for West Ham.
He will have the influential Ogbonna back next season and hopefully a new left-footed teammate in Nayef Aguerd meaning he shouldn’t have to fill in on the left hand side anymore.