Bosses at Chelsea cut out a football agent who masterminded the sale of Zouma

Bosses at Chelsea 'cut out' a football agent who had masterminded the sale of Kurt Zouma to West Ham, a court heard.

Saif Rubie, 45, sent an email to Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia, 49, threatening to send in enforcers to secure his 10 per cent cut of the defender's £29million transfer fee, it is claimed.

The agent claims he had brokered the deal on the Hammers captain and just wanted what he was owed, Southwark crown court has heard.

Rubie's defence barrister Matthew Radstone asked Ms Granovskaia: 'How much did West Ham pay for Kurt Zouma?

She replied: 'The deal that was struck between the clubs was £25m, that was the deal I ended up finalising directly with the officials of West Ham.

'Then, if I may elaborate, the club was allowed to officially speak with the player about his terms.

'Then the club (West Ham) reached out to me again directly and via their intermediaries, that they were struggling to agree a deal with the player because of their wage structure and his demands and they asked us if we would facilitate that agreement by accepting an additional fee.

'I have spoken to our legal team that if that has to be done, it can be done.

'The fee that was paid was around £29.1m then £4.1 was paid to the player as termination fee, Chelsea received just under £25m.'

Mr Radstone continued: 'The transfer fee was £29.1m, close to 34m euros?

'Yes, I think it was less than that (in euros) but yes,' replied Ms Granovskaia.

Mr Radstone asked: 'Did you tell the defendant?'

'No I did not because it was not my understanding of the deal and due to the structure if it,' she replied.

Mr Radstone added: 'If Chelsea received more than 30m euros, he would be entitled to commissions that is what you said?

'That there would be a conversation to