Chelsea have reached a “verbal agreement” with West Ham over the transfer fee for Kurt Zouma, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.

The reliable journalist claims the Blues have accepted an offer of €30m (£25.7m) from the Hammers for the France international but the deal is being hampered by the defender’s wage demands:

?? @TheAthleticUK COLUMN ??

⚽️ #CPFC want Nketiah for £10m, #AFC seek £20m

⚽️ #WHUFC & #CFC in €30m verbal agreement for Zouma but stuck on personal terms

⚽️ Vestergaard injury #LCFC

⚽️ Ward-Prowse hits £100kpw, @dansheldonsport #SaintsFC

➕ Morehttps://t.co/PqwHz80AGZ

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 23, 2021

Zouma is earning £125,000 a week at Stamford Bridge but he wants a significant increase on that figure before he agrees to a move to the London Stadium.

West Ham are, however, very unlikely to give the centre-back the salary he wants as it would make him the highest-paid player at the club.

Zouma is happy to stay in London but West Ham’s offer is the only one on the table currently, with Tottenham having yet to make a formal approach for the 26-year-old.

If the Frenchman is sold before the end of the month, the money will be used to finance a bid for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, who is Chelsea’s priority target ahead of the window closing.