The 6ft 3in midfield monster Denis Zakaria will be a West Ham player by next week claims top transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
Yesterday we reported on Hammers News that West Ham’s transfer chiefs were meeting with Juventus to discuss signing midfielder Denis Zakaria.
It was claimed a new round of talks was taking place between West Ham and Juve for the Swiss.
And it comes as West Ham prepare to say goodbye to captain Declan Rice as he joins Arsenal in a British record £105m deal.
Well it seems those reported talks with Juventus have gone well.
6ft 3in midfield monster Denis Zakaria will be a West Ham player by next week claims top transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio
Because 6ft 3in midfield monster Zakaria will be a West Ham player by next week claims top transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Italian reporter claims West Ham will make an offer worth just over £15m today. And while that is around £5m short of Juve’s valuation, there is an expectation an agreement will be reached by next week.
“An official offer from West Ham is about to be made for him,” Di Marzio states.
“They expect it to arrive at Juventus on Thursday. As for the figure, it should be around 18 million Euros (£15m), but the Bianconeri are asking for 25m Euros (£21m): a compromise should be reached in the next week.
“It would be the first sale among the midfield departures.”
Big shoes to fill but Moyes and Steidten clearly believe in Zakaria
Rice is leaving big shoes to fill in West Ham’s midfield. And after flopping at both Juve and Chelsea, Zakaria has it all to prove.
But David Moyes and – perhaps more pertinently new technical director Tim Steidten – clearly see something in the giant midfield powerhouse.
Steidten knows the former Borussia Monchengladbach player well from his time in Germany.
Passing his best attribute as Swiss looks set to be first of two midfielder signings
And the 26-year-old must have something about him to have attracted the likes of Juventus and Chelsea in the first place.
He also has nearly 50 caps for his country too.
Zakaria’s passing is the best part of his game. But his average match rating in his career so far is just 6.5/10 – a figure which will have to significantly improve if he is to be a hit at West Ham.
The Hammers are looking to sign two midfielders to replace Rice and Manuel Lanzini this summer transfer window.
But it very much looks like Zakaria will be the first of those if Di Marzio’s claims are accurate.
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