Huge Zouma wage packet has ‘not gone down well’ at West Ham

West Ham players are unhappy with Kurt Zouma’s huge salary following his move from Chelsea, according to reports.

The France international joined the Hammers a few days before the transfer deadline in a deal reportedly worth £29.8m.

West Ham have brought Zouma in to provide competition for Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna in central defence after the 26-year-old was told he would be back-up under Thomas Tuchel this season.

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Zouma signed a four-year contract at the London Stadium with the former Everton loanee bringing in £125,000 a week.

And The Sun claims that his wage packet ‘has not gone down particularly well with other players’ who have created a ‘tight-knit group at West Ham’.

The players might be unhappy but David Moyes was “delighted” to welcome Zouma, he said: “I am delighted to welcome Kurt to West Ham United.

“He is a player we have tracked for some time, and we have taken great care and diligence to make the transfer happen. He was always our first choice and I am very happy that he is now our player.

“Kurt will join a squad full of players who are hungry and ambitious. He will provide competition to our squad. He is a strong, powerful player with great experience in the Premier League while he is also at a good age for a centre-back.

“Kurt has enjoyed great success at Chelsea and I can see that he is determined to continue being successful here at the London Stadium.

“Myself, the coaching staff and players are all looking forward to working with him and we wish him all the very best in his career with us.”

Meanwhile, former West Ham and Chelsea defender Glen Johnson was surprised by the Blues’ decision to sell Zouma.

Johnson said: “As a West Ham guy, I’m delighted that they’ve signed him and I think it’s a great deal.

“He’s a good player and is super athletic. He’s a bubbly guy too so I reckon the West Ham lads would be really happy to have him with them.

“From a Chelsea perspective, I’m surprised they’ve sold him. There clearly must be something between him and Thomas Tuchel because otherwise they wouldn’t have let him go, even though I don’t know that personally.

“He’s a very good player and for him to turn up at West Ham is ideal for the Hammers.”