Denis Zakaria has been linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer, with Aston Villa and West Ham United keen on him.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, Aston Villa have now established contacts to sign Denis Zakaria. The Villans hope to beat West Ham United to the signature of the 26-year-old Swiss international.
Zakaria was on loan at Stamford Bridge last season, and he had a disappointing spell with the Blues. It will be interesting to see if the 26-year-old can make his mark in the Premier League next season with Aston Villa or West Ham.
The Swiss international was highly regarded during his time in the Bundesliga. But he has not been able to replicate that form since his move to Italy. He is unwanted at Juventus, and the Italian outfit will look to get rid of him permanently.
Aston Villa need to add more depth and quality to their midfield, and Zakaria could be a useful acquisition for them if he manages to regain his form and confidence. Similarly, West Ham need to bring in midfield reinforcements this summer. They have already sanctioned the departure of club captain Declan Rice and they will have to replace him adequately.
The 26-year-old Juventus midfielder could be available for a reasonable price because of his stature at the club. The Italian giants will want to get rid of him and they are unlikely to demand the premium.
Aston Villa and West Ham will be competing in Europe next season, and they need deeper squads to do well across multiple competitions. Zakaria would be a useful option to have next season. The 26-year-old knows the Premier League well after his loan spell at Chelsea, and he will look to make his mark next season.
Aston Villa have shown tremendous improvement under new manager Unai Emery, and they will look to build on those performances next season. They will aim for Europa League qualification. But it remains to be seen whether they can strengthen their squad adequately before the summer transfer window closes.
