In a recent report, Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) mentioned that West Ham United are still in talks to sign Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria. It has been stated that the Hammers are still trying to agree on a deal to bring the Swiss talent to East London this summer.
Zakaria’s Recent Loan Spell At Stamford Bridge
The 26-year-old endured an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea recently as he struggled to prove his worth for them in the Premier League. The Genf-born sensation only made 11 appearances for the Blues last season, scoring one goal in the process across multiple competitions.
Zakaria anchored the midfield well at times for the West London club and did well to average 1.3 shots and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He even distributed the ball with conviction from midfield based on his pass success rate of 88.8% in the English top flight (stats via whoscored).
The Switzerland international is under contract at his parent club Juventus until the summer of 2026. Thus, the Hammers will find it tough to sign him on a cut-price deal in this off-season.
Is Zakaria A Good Option For West Ham United?
Zakaria loves a tackle and can sense the danger well to clear the danger when the opposition are on the front foot. He can also make a few energetic runs with the ball from midfield.
However, the Switzerland international needs to find a way to be more consistent with his contributions at the centre of the park.
Zakaria is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also fill in as a box-to-box midfielder or as a central defender if told to do so.
We can expect Zakaria to add more bite and steel to David Moyes’ midfield department at West Ham. He will no doubt increase competition for places within the East London club‘s squad.
At 26, Zakaria has his peak years ahead of him which makes him an excellent option for the Hammers to consider during this summer transfer window. However, the jury is still out on whether the Swiss talent can adapt to the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football.
