Opinions

West Ham must move for Kurt Zouma

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OPINION

West Ham must heed Dean Ashton’s advice and welcome another new centre-back in this window.

The former Hammers forward was asked on Twitter where he thinks the club need to strengthen ahead of the transfer window closing and Ashton stated that Manuel Pellegrini could do with another centre-back following Winston Reid’s injury.

While Pellegrini’s side should be able to cope with their current options at central defence, another enforcer being recruited would make the Hammers comfortable regarding that position in case they have bad luck with injuries once again.

Given that Pellegrini’s side also lack a defensive midfielder as it stands they should look to strike a deal for a player who could excel just in front or in the heart of the defence.

A player who fits that bill perfectly is Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma and given that his future at Stamford Bridge is thought to be in doubt then the Hammers could easily secure his services.

The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that the 23-year-old had been left with out a squad number at the Blues and with him wanting to feature regularly then it seems he may have to move to get his wish.

The Hammers have spent heavily this summer and given that Chelsea may not be willing to permanently part with their promising defender, then perhaps another loan exit could be on the cards and fit into the Hammers’ budget.

Zouma excelled while on loan at Stoke City last season as he featured 34 times for them and looked like a rock at the back despite their troubles.

The enforcer is an excellent tackler at the ball, reads the game well in order to break up his opponent’s attack and regularly wins his aerial duels so he would improve the Hammers at the back if recruited.

Also while Zouma hasn’t been deployed as a defensive midfielder in his recent campaigns, the 23-year-old is very comfortable on the ball and it’s easy to see him taking to that role like a duck takes to water.

This all means that the Hammers should take note of Ashton’s advice and act on it by snapping up another centre-back in the form of Zouma before the transfer window shuts.

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