West Ham are prepared to offload captain Kurt Zouma at the end of the season, according to talkSPORT.
The radio station claim that the Hammers are “ready” to let the France international leave as they want to get one of their top earners off the wage bill.
Zouma joined the club from Chelsea for £30m in the summer of 2021, and he signed a four-year contract worth £125,000 a week.
According to website Capology, the 29-year-old has the joint second-highest salary at the London club, along with Danny Ings, with Lucas Paqueta the only player earning more.
Zouma is closing in on the final year of his contract
With the defender’s current deal set to expire in 2025, negotiations over an extension would have been due but it seems clear that West Ham have no intention of discussing fresh terms.
Not only is Zouma’s wage rather high, he has also been plagued by a chronic knee problem over the last couple of years, which makes it even less worthwhile offering him a new contract.
TalkSPORT report that a move to Saudi Arabia looks the most likely option at the moment. Speculation about a transfer to the Middle East has been gathering pace in recent months.
West Ham are planning a squad revamp
Technical director Tim Steidten is believed to be set on bringing in reinforcements this summer. It has already been claimed that the club are pursuing Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo.
The 26-year-old will be available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign and, with Zouma seemingly on his way out of the London Stadium, it appears the Irons have identified a potential replacement.
Adarabioyo does have plenty of other suitors, though, with Liverpool and Tottenham also said to be keen on securing his services.
