West Ham tell Kurt Zouma to find a new club.
West Ham tell Kurt Zouma to find a new club.
Match

West Ham tell Kurt Zouma to find new club - sources

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

West Ham have told Kurt Zouma he is free to find a new club this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

Sources say the centre-back has been made available to other clubs after struggling to cope with the demands of playing more than once per week in the just-completed campaign.

Zouma, 29, was made captain after Declan Rice's exit last summer, and had been a regular feature in the team under David Moyes, starting 38 games in the 2023-24 season, 29 in 2022-23 and 32 in 2021-22.

However, following the arrival of Julen Lopetegui, West Ham will look to move in a new direction.

Football Insider revealed on 23 May that the Hammers are close to signing Brazilian defender Fabricio Bruno, in a deal which would pave the way for Zouma's exit.

Kurt Zouma told to leave West Ham in search of a new club

Zouma arrived at the London Stadium on a four-year deal from Chelsea in 2021, for a fee of £29.8million, with his deal set to come to an end next summer.

Reports at the time named the Frenchman as the club's top earner, with a £125,000-per-week salary, which the Hammers would look to reinvest elsewhere following his departure.

The demands of playing Europa League football on top of challenging in the Premier League and domestic cup competitions proved an issue this season.

Having featured 39 times over the season, he was rested in six of the Hammers' ten Europa League games and was not involved in any of the League Cup clashes as they reached the quarter-finals of both tournaments.

The news of his availability comes after former Hammers striker Frank McAvennie told Football Insider that Lopetegui should sell the entire defence upon his arrival, with Zouma specifically called out.

Alongside the imminent arrival of Bruno, sources tell Football Insider that West Ham could reignite their interest in Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah as they restructure their defence.

In other news, West Ham's plan for Flynn Downes has been revealed.

For more West Ham and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

West Ham United
Kurt Zouma
Julen Lopetegui
www.footballinsider247.com