Kurt Zouma injury sets West Ham wheels in motion for ‘primary target’
West Ham boss David Moyes is understood to be pondering a loan move for Manchester City defender Nathan Ake after the Hammers confirmed Zurt Zouma has picked up a hamstring injury.
The high-flying Hammers confirmed on Tuesday that Zouma is facing a spell on the sidelines. The centre-back picked up a hamstring problem in the weekend’s win over Chelsea and has already started his recovery process.
The Premier League club were careful not to reveal the extent of the problem and did not put a timescale on the 27-year-old’s absence.
Astatement from the club read: “West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma sustained a hamstring tendon injury during Saturday’s Premier League victory against Chelsea.
“A scan on Monday revealed the damage and the 27-year-old French international defender has already started his recovery programme at Rush Green under the supervision of the medical team.”
The Times though insist the player has “suffered significant damage” and will be missing for between six and 12 weeks.
Moyes is already without Angelo Ogbonna for the season with a knee injury. And fellow defender Ben Johnson has also suffered a low-grade hamstring strain, forcing him to sit out for a month.
With that in mind Moyes is set to make a move in the January market. And The Sun insist the former Man Utd boss has his sights set on Dutch defender Ake.
The 26-year-old has started just three games in the league this season. He is fourth choice centre-back for Pep Guardiola at City. But the Spaniard will not be keen on seeing £40m signing Ake depart.
An injury to Aymeric Laports, John Stones or Ruben Dias would then see City struggling for numbers.
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Ake among West Ham’s defensive targets
According to 90min, West Ham have made Ake their ‘primary target’.
Last week the outlet reported that the Hammers were keen on a January loan deal with an obligation to buy. And their need has become greater in light of Zouma’s injury.
Anoyther option for Moyes is Burnley’s James Tarkowski. The Hammers tried and failed with a number of bids for the centre-back in the summer. They saw an offer of £30m rejected by the Clarets.
Tarkowski is out of contract next summer and is available for free, but if West Ham want him in January they will have to pay a fee for the 29-year-old.
Liverpool’s Nat Phillips is also believed to be a target for Moyes after sliding back down the pecking order this season.
READ MORE: Phillips loan chances amid mixed Liverpool messages
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