There is major relief as confusion over the ‘imminent’ West Ham signing of midfielder Denis Zakaria is cleared up by a board confidant.
West Ham have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria.
But it has looked increasingly like the big push is coming from the Italian club rather than West Ham as David Moyes looks to replace Declan Rice.
A respected Italian journalist claimed Swiss international Zakaria would likely be a West Ham player by this week.
Reports have abound that another meeting was due to take place between West Ham and Juventus on Monday to thrash out a deal for between £17-19m.
Identical claims were made last Wednesday and Hammers News questioned whether Zakaria was really the best West Ham can do as they look to make their first signing of the summer transfer window.
Major relief as confusion over ‘imminent’ West Ham signing of midfielder Denis Zakaria is cleared up by board confidant
We highlighted that, compared to Rice, Zakaria is a distinctly average player who has flopped at his last two clubs and could not get into a Chelsea team who finished 12th.
Moyes have been linked with a plethora of midfielders in the last two months. And Zakaria is comfortably the worst of the lot.
He completely failed to make any impact at Juventus, playing just 15 games. Zakaria was then loaned out to Chelsea last season for a £1.5m fee with an option to buy.
But he fared even worse at Chelsea, making 11 appearances – mostly as sub – and the Blues decided not to activate their option to purchase the Swiss defensive midfielder.
His average match rating in his career so far is just 6.5/10 – hardly a ringing endorsement of the midfielder’s abilities.
Relief over move talk that has concerned many Hammers fans
Zakaria does boast respectable passing statistics but everything else – including his all-important defensive numbers – are distinctly average.
At best he would have it all to prove at West Ham. So it is understandable some fans have shared the concerns of Hammers News over reports from the likes of Tuttosport that the 26-year-old will be our first signing of the window.
Conflicting reports have also surfaced claiming it is something of a red herring and the move is being pushed by Zakaria’s agents and Juventus as they are desperate to offload him and raise funds.
But there’s major relief as confusion over ‘imminent’ West Ham deal for midfielder Zakaria is cleared up by a board confidant.
‘Club insiders have denied the reports’
Sean Whetstone claims West Ham insiders have told him the club are NOT meeting Juve about signing Zakaria.
And he states that while there is some loose interest in the player after a recommendation from new technical director Tim Steidten, the Hammers will not entertain anything other than a loan with an option to buy.
“West Ham representatives are not set to meet with Juventus today to continue negotiations for central defensive midfielder,” Whetstone states on 6foot2.
“Club insiders have denied the Tuttosport report which claimed the transfer fee for the Swiss international was not far away…
“The Hammers did confirm some interest but are concerned over the players injury record so would not entertain a straight permanent transfer.”
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