Kurt Zouma ‘has not earned the right to be West Ham’s highest-paid player’ as £30million transfer from Chelsea is in danger of collapse

Kurt Zouma is not in a position to desire being West Ham's highest-paid player, believes Darren Bent.

talkSPORT understands a £30million deal is in place for the Chelsea centre-back to join West Ham this summer.

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However, personal terms are a stumbling block with Zouma understood to be demanding £125,000-a-week wages.

This would make him the Hammers' highest-paid player - Andriy Yarmolenko currently tops the charts with £115,000-a-week according to .

And Bent suggested that if West Ham were to agree to Zouma's terms then it could cause a divide in the dressing room.

"It might upset the team but it's a premium as he's come from Chelsea so I get it," Bent told talkSPORT Breakfast. "That's why he's trying to command those kinds of figures.

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"But at the same time, I don't think he's earned the right in terms of performances on the pitch.

"If he comes in and says he wants to be the highest-paid player and if I'm one of the players in the dressing room I'm thinking 'why?'"

"I know he's come from Chelsea but I wouldn't say his performances over the past couple of seasons have seen him deserve to be the highest-paid player at West Ham."

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The transfer is in danger of not going through before deadline day on August 31, which could scupper Chelsea's chances of bringing in Jules Kounde.

The Sevilla centre-back, 22, is understood to have agreed personal terms but the deal depends on Chelsea's ability to sell Zouma.

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