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Zaha Swoop as Transfer Warchest Opens

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West Ham United are ready to splash the cash in the transfer window after a positive press conference from  Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten seemingly addressed concerns over financial limitations at the London Stadium.

While a top-tier striker remains at the forefront of our plans, West Ham are also reportedly eyeing a statement signing in the form of a Premier League proven winger.

According to Turkish outlet Sporx, West Ham have continued to monitor Wilfried Zaha, who could be available for a surprisingly low fee. After just one year at Galatasaray, the Ivorian winger is deemed surplus to requirements by the Turkish club due to his hefty wages (£300,000 per week). This has made him a viable option for the Hammers, with a reported price tag of just £8 million. Whilst it’s clear that West Ham won’t get close to matching such a ridiculous salary, there remains interest.

Despite his high wages, Zaha’s track record in England’s top flight is undeniable. The 31-year-old amassed a staggering 90 goals and 62 assists in 458 appearances for Crystal Palace, earning plaudits from the likes of Jurgen Klopp, who labelled him “world-class.”

His ability to draw fouls (ranked in the top 2% for attacking midfielders/wingers in the 2022/23 season) would create opportunities for set-piece specialists like James Ward-Prowse. Clearly he is not world class as Klopp suggested, but Zaha is an excellent Premier League operator and still has miles in the tank.

Zaha is a nightmare for defenders with his dribbling skills and a constant threat in the penalty area.
He hasn’t lost his goalscoring touch either, evidenced by his 10 goals and 5 assists for Galatasaray last season.

Zaha’s presence on the pitch could unlock even more from Jarrod Bowen, who enjoyed a prolific season with 20 goals.

The combination of Zaha’s experience and speed alongside Bowen’s finishing ability and Mohammed Kudus’ dribbling prowess has the potential to be truly explosive.

We are in need of more firepower, and Zaha, with his Premier League pedigree (23 goals in his last two seasons in England) and the potential to complement our existing attacking talent, could be cheap yet effective solution. If the Hammers can negotiate a realistic wage structure, then securing Zaha’s signature would be a significant statement of intent for Lopetegui as he embarks on his new project at the London Stadium.

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13 comments

  • Staffordhammer says:

    Rather have Jota anyday, Actually should of signed him buy now, Fed up of us looking at South Americans need a few homegrown players and get some quality European guys in

  • JOHN says:

    zaha again, bloody hell, do you not fall asleep when writing this…

  • Ian says:

    Not a cat in hell’s chance is Zaha earning £300,000 per week.
    I’d have him at £8m IF that’s true, which it probably isn’t.
    No doubting his ability. It’s his character that goes against him. Always put him in the ‘diving, cheat’ category. If he comes to us, that needs to stop.

  • Billy says:

    Don’t like his whole, diving, sulking, cheating, unsportsmanlike behaviour. Would rather he wasn’t associated with our club thanks.

  • My left foot says:

    His wages are nowhere near £300,000 a week. Somewhere near the £100 grand mark. I agree with Kevlar, get Jota Silva from Guimares. He’s already agreed terms, and he wants the move

  • Kevlar says:

    Get jota from guimares instead young fast and Portuguese international for £17m and cheap wages as well. He will have a sell on value as zaha won’t as he’s too old and greedy! We need to move away from these type of players,and buy young players with hunger and potential to improve.

  • West Ham Voice says:

    £300k a week????

    Even sky sports reported that he signed a contract worth around £72k a week this time last year

    • elduder says:

      it’s probably 300k turkish lira

      which is around 72k pounds

      these people are incredibly lazy and have zero pride in their work – as you can tell

      and simple folk take them serious and then cry on social media about our club

      with fans like these who needs enemies, right? little toxicity manufacturing plants for profit

      • elduder says:

        i take that back, this article was well written even though it got a detail wrong

        dropped the ball on the wages but it was otherwise well crafted and with some substance

        i was the one being toxic here, extreme over reaction from someone getting a little jaded by the fan grifters out there, my apologies

  • ricardo says:

    Too old, too expensive, or?

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