The Saudi Pro League is interested in acquiring a West Ham defender

The Saudi Pro League has an eye in getting Kurt Zouma, the captain of West Ham United.

In helping West Ham win the Europa Conference League last season, Zouma solidified his place as one of David Moyes’ starting lineup players and formed a productive relationship with Nayef Aguerd.

The Frenchman is one of the club’s highest earners along with Jarrod Bowen and Alphonse Areola, who has finally replaced Lukasz Fabianski as the club’s starting goalkeeper after spending two years on the bench.

However, the Frenchman has continued to struggle with injuries, playing just 45 of a possible 76 Premier League games in his first two seasons at the club.

When Zouma, 28, transferred from Chelsea to West Ham for £30 million in August 2021, he signed a four-year contract, but by the time the January transfer market opens, he will only have 18 months left on it. There hasn’t been any progress in offering new terms as of yet.

It is believed that Saudi Pro League teams identified Zouma as a possible target in the summer, but it was made clear that a trade wouldn’t even be considered until the beginning of January.

Since then, Zouma has taken Declan Rice’s place as West Ham’s official captain, leading the team for the entire 90 minutes in each of the club’s eight Premier League games this year.

Konstantinos Mavropanos was acquired by West Ham from VfB Stuttgart in the summer, bolstering their center-back options.

However, the Greek international has only played one substitute game in the Premier League and 270 minutes combined in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.

Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna are also options for manager Moyes, and Aguerd can also play in Zouma’s natural position on the right side of central defense.

Although a £30 million transfer fee was agreed upon, it is clear that West Ham remain interested in signing Harry Maguire of Manchester United. Technical director Tim Steidten is also closely monitoring other players he is familiar with, such as Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen.

Zouma could therefore be subject to proposals from West Ham as he joins a long list of Premier League players who are wanted by Middle Eastern clubs. Some of the most well-known players to move to Saudi Arabia in the summer included N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

It is anticipated that the four PIF-backed teams in the nation will attempt to bolster their rosters when the window opens.
Manager Moyes also has the choices of Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna, while Aguerd can also play on the right side of central defense, where Zouma’s natural position is.

West Ham is reportedly looking to add a new left-back, midfielder, and center striker in January as Steidten looks to continue on the summer hiring spree that brought in Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, and James Ward-Prowse for the Europa League contenders.