Report: Chelsea and West Ham reach verbal agreement for transfer of 26-year-old star

Chelsea and West Ham reach verbal agreement for transfer of Kurt Zouma

According to The Athletic (subscription required), Chelsea have apparently reached a verbal agreement with West for the sale of Kurt Zouma. West Ham have accepted Chelsea’s demand of €30 million and only personal terms need to be sorted out. However, wage demands of £125,000 per week are said to be holding up the deal.

At 26 years of age, Kurt Zouma stands at the crossroads of his career, at Chelsea and as a whole. He has surely shown enough pedigree to warrant a starting place in most Premier League sides. Yet, at Chelsea, he finds himself among the name Thomas Tuchel uses on sporadic occasions.

West Ham’s interest in the Frenchman is a longstanding one. They have kept their eyes on him for quite a while. Tottenham have also shown interest but it would seem West Ham are all but close to signing the player. Chelsea wanted €30 million and West Ham are ready to pay that meaning that a verbal agreement has been reached.

Zouma wants to remain in London and this could have all be solved easily. However, he wants a significant pay raise that would amount to £125,000 per week, which is more than double his current pay at Chelsea. West Ham are trying their best to get this deal done in time as are Chelsea for different reasons.

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Zouma’s departure will open the door for Chelsea to go after Jules Kounde. Those additional funds will no doubt be handy in securing the . Hence, all parties are in a race against time but all of it hinges on Zouma at this point, to be honest.