The deal for Kurt Zouma to move through London from Chelsea to West Ham fell through, according to reports from France.
Just yesterday, there were claims that Chelsea had reached an agreement to sell Zouma to West Ham, which would pay around £ 25 million for his signature. The center-back has been a target of the Hammers throughout the summer transfer period and it looked like they were getting their man. But there has been a late turn.
According to Telefoot (via Get French Football News), the deal is now canceled due to a problem between the two clubs. It was not a problem between the player and his potential buyers.
A medical examination was scheduled to take place, but the two clubs have canceled the deal. It will send West Ham back to the drawing board as they look to get stronger on defense.
So far, they have struggled to reinforce the squad that secured qualification for the Europa League last season. Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has been their only great new newcomer.
They activated a permanent move for defender Craig Dawson after he impressed on loan last season. However, signing another player in that position remains a priority.
West Ham thought Zouma would be her man after seemingly reaching a deal, but that move has now collapsed.
It will force them to find another solution after a previous one attempt to sign Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina came to a similar conclusion.
The situation is not ideal for Chelsea either, because they need to sell a defender if they want to sign Jules Kounde, their main remaining goal this summer. The intermediaries have been working to negotiate a possible transfer of Sevilla, but they may be left without him.
Sevilla confirms Kounde’s position
Not only has the collapse of the Zouma sale been another obstacle, but Sevilla have confirmed that there is currently nothing on the table for Kounde.
“It is true that there was an offer for Kounde that we rejected,” club president José Castro said Wednesday (translated by Goal).
“Right now there is no specific offer for the player. If it comes, we will look at it as we always have. If we have to [sell]We will, as long as those resources can be reinvested in the club to continue improving and expanding our trophy cabinet.
“As long as the market is open, anything can happen. We have players who could go. Anything can happen at this time of year until the 31st. It is a window where there have been few movements in most of the clubs, but not in ours ”.
As things stand, the future of Zouma and Kounde seems destined to be with their current clubs.
However, Sky Sport’s Gianluca Di Marzio has since tweeted Kounde’s name alongside Chelsea, with an hourglass emoji, indicating that that deal may still be in place at least.
READ MORE: Chelsea star turned down European club to stay at Stamford Bridge
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