In a recent report, Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) mentioned that West Ham United are still hoping to land Juventus ace Denis Zakaria. It is understood that the Hammers are in constant communication with the Turin club to sign the Swiss midfielder in this off-season.
Zakaria’s Recent Loan Spell At Stamford Bridge
Zakaria experienced a lackluster loan spell at Chelsea in the previous campaign after struggling to be consistent with his performances in the middle of the park. Zakaria scored one goal in 11 matches for the West London giants last season in multiple competitions.
The Genf-born talent caught the eye at times for the West London club by averaging 1.3 shots and 1.1 dribbles per game in Premier League football. He even distributed possession relatively well from midfield after making 88.8% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Zakaria is under contract at his parent club Juventus until 2026 which would make it difficult for the Hammers to get on board on the cheap this summer.
Should West Ham United Boss David Moyes Get Zakaria On Board?
Zakaria can shoot the ball with venom and accuracy from long range and can make a few driving runs with the ball from midfield. However, he has to find a way to be more consistent with his contributions at the centre of the park.
The Swiss sensation failed to prove his worth in the Premier League last season. Hence, he would be a risky option for West Ham boss David Moyes to consider during this summer transfer period.
Zakaria will inject more energy and dynamism into the East London club‘s midfield. Furthermore, he would serve as a decent replacement for Declan Rice who parted ways with the Hammers to join Arsenal this summer.
At 26, the Swiss midfield ace has still got a lot of room for improvement, so West Ham will have to be patient with his progress if they want to get the best out of him in the future.
With all things considered, Moyes would be wise to try everything in his power to lure Zakaria to the London Stadium before the start of the new campaign.