Yet another signing is through the door. Jean-Clair Todibo has been signed on an initial season's loan from Nice, with an obligation to buy for £34m next season. French international Todibo appears a very promising defender and had been interesting Juventus. He also adds to WHU's list of unusual first names, with Jean-Clair joining Maximilian, Crysenco and Konstantinos. Not too many Bobbys or Geoffs in this line-up.
Todibo's signing is also set to signal Kurt Zouma going to UAE side Shabab A-ahli on a free. Kurt has a year to run on his contract and releasing him now will save the club an estimated £5 million in wages. Zouma gave good service for his three seasons. His best moment was probably that headed goal against Liverpool in the 3-2 win a couple of seasons ago, though he also contributed useful headers against Luton and Everton last season. And of course Kurt played his part in the 2023 Europa Conference League Final, before going off injured in the second half.
For a long time he was West Ham's best defender and bravely played on through a series of injuries. But by the second half of last season Kurt's running looked heavily impaired and if Lopetegui saw the 5-2 defeat at Palace it probably made up his mind. There was also catgate of course, one of West Ham's more bizarre scandals. Zouma was foolish, but perhaps the following week's invasion of Ukraine by Russia put his offence in perspective.
We've exchanged an ageing centre back with injury problems for a younger player of promise. This looks like further progress, even though Steidten does have to ensure we have bought a team rather than a set of star names.
2 comments:
Zouma and the Cat.
How do we know that Zoumas' actions didn't cause Russia to invade Ukraine?
Putin could. be a cat lover, so they might be connected.
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