Pablo Zabaleta could snub a new West Ham contract and decide to retire, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim the Argentine right-back, 33, is weighing up his future despite plans from the Hammer to offer him an extension to his current deal, which expires at the end of the season.
The Sun report West Ham are looking at bringing in a new right-back next year and one potential option is Manchester United star Antonio Valencia, who is also out of contract next summer.
OPINION
Given that Zabaleta will blow out 34 candles on his birthday cake next month, there must be some doubt as to whether he will carry on at West Ham beyond this season. The player has spoken about the possibility of ending his glittering career in the Middle East, and knows that the brutal demands of the Premier League may be too much for him to play regularly next season. West Ham appear to love having the popular defender around and would want to keep him on for his valuable experience and the pedigree that brought him two title medals at Manchester City, including one under Manuel Pellegrini. Since moving to West Ham on a free transfer in the summer of 2017, Zabaleta has been the first choice right-back and has started 11 out of the team’s 15 league matches this season despite Ryan Fredericks joining on a free in the summer. He is not quite the player he was, but remains a real competitor with the heart of a lion.