West Ham want Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
According to the Daily Mirror, West Ham are considering swooping for Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta in the summer if the Citizens allow the Spaniard’s contract to expire.
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The Mirror reports that Zabaleta’s current deal at the Etihad expires at the end of the campaign, and while Pep Guardiola has told him that there is a potential extension up for grabs depending on his form, there has been no progress made regarding a new contract.
Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta in action with Tottenham’s Harry Kane
The Mirror adds that that has attracted the Hammers’ attention as they look to bolster their defensive options ahead of next season, and the possibility of landing the full-back on a free transfer would enable them to pay the kind of wages that would tempt him to the London Stadium.
Given the problems that Slaven Bilic’s side have endured in defence – in particular, at full-back – it is hardly a surprise that Zabaleta is on their radar.
Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta shoots at goal
The 32-year-old has been a stalwart of the City side that has won two Premier League titles and regularly competed towards the summit of the table as well as in Europe, and his experience and reliability could make a major difference to a West Ham side that have struggled defensively this year.
And it is not only the defence that would be strengthened by Zabaleta’s arrival, as West Ham fans will know all too well as he performed very well in a more central midfield role when he lined up against the Irons in January’s FA Cup tie between the two clubs.
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