West Ham United have enjoyed a productive summer in terms of new arrivals and it may be time for some players to move on.
There is no trophy for ‘winning the transfer window’ but, if there was, West Ham United may be frontrunners.
The Hammers have pulled off some impressive deals to back new manager Julen Lopetegui.
Wes Foderingham, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug have all joined West Ham this summer.
Midfielder Guido Rodriguez has also arrived amid suggestions that Barcelona should have signed him.
Lopetegui now appears to have depth across the pitch and West Ham fans will be expecting a strong season under the Spaniard.
West Ham may need to move some players out of the club as well though and defender Kurt Zouma is the source of interest.
Julen Lopetegui on Kurt Zouma
Zouma appears to be on the chopping block after the arrival of fellow Frenchman Todibo.
The 29-year-old joined West Ham from Chelsea in 2021 and has now racked up more than 100 appearances for the club.
Zouma is now set to fade out of the starting XI at the London Stadium though and West Ham may let him go.
HITC understands that Shabab Al-Ahli have been ahead of Saudi Arabian clubs in the race for Zouma.
A deal to move to the United Arab Emirates has not yet been completed though and reports from the Daily Mail suggest that Zouma actually failed a medical.
West Ham are still looking to move Zouma on though and Lopetegui has now commented on the situation.
Speaking to The Daily Mail’s Kathryn Batte, Lopetegui noted that Zouma is a ‘fantastic person’ and a ‘very good player’.
Lopetegui is just waiting to hear what Zouma decides on his future as he is talking to a number of clubs right now.
Zouma needs West Ham exit
Zouma has been a regular for West Ham in recent years but his game time is about to plummet.
Todibo is a major coup for West Ham with the Hammers managing to hijack Juventus for his signature.
The likelihood is that Todibo will now come straight into the West Ham back line and form a new-look partnership with Max Kilman.
Todibo and Kilman are the ideal right-foot, left-foot partnership and mark two major signings for the Hammers.
Zouma simply isn’t going to be in Lopetegui’s first-choice XI and that West Ham are happy for him to talk to other clubs just sums up their stance.
West Ham are happy for Zouma to go and if he wants to play regularly, he needs to move on – whether it’s UAE, Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
