West Ham are believed to be exploring options to cancel Kurt Zouma’s contract if an agreement can be reached.
The defender is surplus to requirements at the London Stadium, with new Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui believing the player is not suited to the rigors of Premier League football and incompatible with his tactics.
The big Frenchman was set for a transfer move to UAE side Shabab Al-Ahli earlier this summer, but that move collapsed for predictable reasons—he failed his medical.
Zouma earns a basic wage of £90k per week at West Ham, and his presence on the wage bill is a concern for the Hammers, who are looking to balance the books. The club has not given up on a compromise deal with Shabab Al-Ahli as the transfer window draws to a close.
West Ham have accepted that they may need to subsidise some of the 29-year-old’s wages if he can secure a pay-as-you-play deal in the UAE. However, if no deal can be agreed, the club might look to strike a pay-off agreement similar to the one that allowed Jack Wilshere to leave his contract early.
Zouma has a year remaining on his contract at the London Stadium and was informed last season that the club would not be exercising their option to extend the deal.
A failed medical leaves no other options other than to reach a settlement which won’t be easy as he knows there’s no last hoorah payday for him. It might just be that he stays without a squad number.
Frightening to think what an automatic choice he was, when fit under moysie. That’s also made bad injury far worse
I said on another channel (Bobby Moore Stand) that Zouma’s knees are totally busto. Nobody will buy him. Well, Harry would – remembering how broken Paulo Future was.
Typo. Futre before I’m called out 😁
If no-one will buy him because of a permanent injury WH could exercise his insurance clause and get him a payout. WH would save money but he would not be able to play again.