West Ham United could complete Denis Zakaria signing within days amid Juventus discount twist

West Ham could complete the signature of Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria within the coming days, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

In a boost to the Hammers, the newspaper noted that the Serie A giants are willing to drop the initial request of €20million (£17million).

Zakaria spent last season in the Premier League on loan at Chelsea, where the 26-year-old made 11 appearances in all competitions.

“A discussion with West Ham is pending for him, although the negotiation has not yet reached the hot stages,” according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (page four, 9 July).

“However, the interest of the Londoners is real, as is Juve’s willingness to drop the initial request of €20million.

West Ham will not want to rush into any Declan Rice replacement, with the Hammers perhaps still emotional amid the impending exit of their captain fantastic to Arsenal.

But the new Premier League season is rapidly approaching, and the Hammers also have the Europa League to think about.

It means they definitely need to get a move on in their search for a new defensive midfielder, with Zakaria seemingly eyed as the ideal player to take over from Rice in the middle of the pitch.

That is, however, set to be a very difficult job, with Rice having been a standout at the London Stadium for the past few seasons.

But Zakaria boasts plenty of big-game experience, with injuries and a bloated squad not helping his case for regular minutes at Stamford Bridge last time out.

Hammers fans may not be too convinced given his spell at Chelsea, but the midfielder could come alive with a consistent run of matches in the top flight.

In other West Ham news, one club chief is losing patience in a deal for a Hammers player who is their first-choice signing.