According to TuttoSport, Denis Zakaria’s transfer to West Ham United is anticipated to be finalized on Monday (10 July) for a sum of approximately £17m, relays the WHZ.
As David Moyes aims to rebuild his squad following the potential departure of Rice, the Hammers are prepared to utilize the funds to secure new signings, with Zakaria, a former on-loan Chelsea midfielder, emerging as a primary target to strengthen the midfield. Initially, reports indicated the possibility of a loan deal for Zakaria, but it is now reported by Tuttosport that a permanent transfer worth £17m is set to be completed.
As per the report, West Ham United is expected to complete their first summer signing within the next 48 hours, specifically on Monday. With Edson Alvarez and Joao Palhinha reportedly being considered by Moyes to initiate the post-Rice revolution at the London Stadium, West Ham United seems to have made an impressive start to their rebuilding process.
The acquisition of Zakaria would be a prudent and sensible move for West Ham United this summer. While there may be greater risks involved in a permanent transfer, it demonstrates that the club is determined to progress beyond their former captain.
While Zakaria alone may not entirely fill the void left by Rice, he could be viewed as an improvement over Tomas Soucek, who has been linked with an exit and experienced a decline in form and performance levels last season. Addressing this issue is crucial for the Irons, especially considering Soucek’s contract is set to expire in 2024.
At 26 years old, Zakaria possesses an ideal age and profile for West Ham United to exploit at present, and his experience in European competitions and the Premier League highlights the club’s astute and intelligent recruitment. It would be unfair to judge him solely based on his challenging period at Stamford Bridge, as injuries and limited opportunities hampered his progress. When given the chance, the Swiss international showcased his dynamism and quality as a box-to-box player, attributes that will undoubtedly be valuable at the London Stadium.