Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma has rejected a move to West Ham and it has left the Blues unable to complete a transfer for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, according to reports in England.
The London club originally wanted to use Zouma in their offer for Kounde but the Frenchman was keen on staying in London. That subsequently led to talks with the Hammers which have now ended without an agreement.
It means Chelsea can’t use the money from Zouma’s sale to raise part of the €60m (£51m) needed for Kounde and that has left many supporters on Twitter upset:
Ship him. Koundes time is now.
— Babooni ➐ (@SackableOffence) August 4, 2021
Zouma needs to move now
— Seriousguy (@Seriousguy1002) August 4, 2021
Maybe Zouma wants to add the super cup and club world cup too
— Nusrat kany (@KanyNusrat) August 4, 2021
Zouma should stop fooling
— K A I ? (@_pope10) August 4, 2021
fam what? I thought he wanted West Ham? Wtf is goin on man?
— KingCole? (@CarefreeCole_) August 4, 2021
Is Zouma waiting for Real Madrid to approach him?? ?
— Kunz ⭐⭐ (@LampardRegen) August 4, 2021
2 days ago he wanted to join only west ham, now he refuses to join west ham. At this rate we need a press conference from the big man himself to clear all this BS.
— Cufax (@Sandyyy17407251) August 4, 2021
Ffs I thought he wanted to join
— Tolu (@CFCToIu) August 4, 2021
There is still a chance that Zouma could be used in a part-exchange offer for Kounde. However, there are a number of issues with that potential deal.
Sevilla don’t value Zouma at €35m (£30m), and Chelsea’s original bid of €35m (£30m) plus the player took this valuation into account. It means the Blues would have to increase the amount of cash they are prepared to pay.
Secondly, Zouma would need to be open to joining Sevilla, which up until this point, hasn’t been on the cards.