West Ham eye Denis Zakaria as Declan Rice replacement

West Ham are plotting a move for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, as David Moyes seeks a replacement for Declan Rice.

Arsenal have reached an agreement with West Ham for star midfielder Declan Rice. They are on the verge of the signing of the England international after agreeing a deal in principle with the Hammers worth £105million—£100m in guaranteed cash plus a further £5m in bonuses. The two London clubs were locked in negotiations on Wednesday with a view to ironing out the final details of the mega deal’s structure.

With Rice on the brink of joining Arsenal, David Moyes will need a new central midfielder to replace his captain in the squad ahead of the new campaign. And the Hammers have reportedly entered negotiations with Juventus over a deal for Denis Zakaria, who is not a part of Max Allegri’s plans for the 2023-24 season.

Zakaria, 26, endured a tough time with Chelsea on loan last season, spending the majority of 2022-23 on the sidelines. He managed just 11 appearances, and after an underwhelming spell at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea decided against triggering the buy option which saw the Swiss international return to Juventus earlier this month.

David Moyes wants Denis Zakaria at West Ham

West Ham have reportedly made a £13 million offer for Denis Zakaria, but Juventus are holding out for £17 million. Juventus would be aware of West Ham receiving a hefty chunk of money after selling Rice to Arsenal, so they may stick to the £17 million valuation of the Swiss midfielder.

Zakaria’s time at Chelsea didn’t go according to plan, yet he could be a smart addition to West Ham, especially for the aforementioned price. The Hammers do remember what his form was like before for Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach, where the Switzerland international had become a hugely coveted player in the continent.

The 26-year-old is a defensive midfielder by trade but he can operate as a No. 8 as well as a centre-back, and such sort of versatility coupled with his passing range, tackling, interception, power and physicality could make him a really good fit in Moyes’ system at West Ham. At 26, Zakaria still has plenty to prove and deserves another shot in the Premier League.

With French club Lens also vying for his signature, West Ham will need to up their offer and reach the £17 million price tag Juventus have set for Zakaria. The rise of just £ 4 million should hardly make a difference as West Ham—after Rice’s record sale—would have enough cash to reinvest in other areas of the squad as well.