‘Kurt Zouma won’t make scheduled West Ham return’
Kurt Zouma faces an uncertain few weeks as he nears the end of his West Ham contract.
The former Hammers captain fell out of favour at the London Stadium and the 30-year-old spent the current campaign on loan with Al-Orobah in the Saudi Pro League.
Zouma, like West Ham team-mate Michail Antonio, is nearing the end of his contract in East London with Graham Potter’s men set for an overhaul in the summer.
And it appears as though a decision on the centre-back’s immediate future is pretty imminent.
Zouma clause decision imminent at West Ham
According to The Athletic (26 May), the 11-cap France international is set to remain in Saudi Arabia beyond his season.
The outlet reports that the Hammers do have the option to extend Zouma’s contract by a further 12 months.
However, it is understood that West Ham are unlikely to trigger that clause meaning he won’t return to the London Stadium.
A summer of comings and goings ahead for The Hammers
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A £29.8million signing from Chelsea in 2021 (Sky Sports), Zouma went on to make over 100 appearances for The Hammers and was part of the side that lifted the Conference League title two years later.
As revealed by their former scout Mick Brown, the centre-back won’t be the only player to leave the London Stadium over the coming weeks.
Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Tomas Soucek is also set to depart West Ham in order to help fund a replacement, with the 30-year-old not part of Graham Potter’s plans for the future.
Funds raised from the sale will go towards a new midfielder who better suits manager Graham Potter’s system and style of play.
| League position | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Goal difference |
| 14th | 43 | 46 | 62 | -16 |
While a bid of £10-15m is likely to secure Soucek’s signature, as exclusively revealed to Football Insider last month, a possible alternative is already in the offing.
Along with Aston Villa and newly-promoted Leeds, Potter is said to be eyeing a move for Southampton midfielder Matheus Fernandes.
The 20-year-old was one of Southampton’s brightest stars in an otherwise disappointing Premier League season that ended in relegation back to the Championship.
The Portugal Under-21 international was named the club’s Player of the Season in what was his debut season on the South Coast.