AS Roma have identified Kurt Zouma as a potential summer transfer target according to reports
According to CalcioMercato, Roma see Kurt Zouma as a long term solution at centre-back and have been monitoring his situation at Chelsea. The French international has struggled for game time this season and this has alerted Roma to the possibility of the player being available in the summer.
Zouma, who signed for Chelsea in January 2014 for a fee of £12 million amid interest from several of Europe’s elite clubs, spent the remainder of that season on loan with AS Saint-Etienne before joining up with Chelsea for the 2014-15 season.
He managed a total of 15 appearances for the Blues and impressed whenever he played as Chelsea ran away with the title. Last season, however, he suffered a cruel injury that required surgery and the Frenchman was, thereafter, ruled out for the season.
He returned to training in pre-season this year but has struggled to break into Antonio Conte’s first team with 0 starts and just 6 appearances in total.
Zouma himself has admitted that he will make a decision on his future at the end of the season as above all, he wants to be playing football at an age where he needs to develop.
If Calciomercato are to be believed, AS Roma will be one of those suitors. It is likely the Italians have started looking for replacements for Kostas Manolas, who has reportedly agreed personal terms with Arsenal already.
While there has been no confirmation on that from either the club or the player, it looks increasingly likely that Manolas will leave Roma at the end of the season and in Zouma, the Italian club would be getting a young player with bags of potential to fill the void.
Chelsea might not want to part with a defender who is so highly rated but should Zouma insist on leaving they might not have a choice. Considering Zouma will have two years left on his contract at the end of the season, he might also be financially viable for Luciano Spalletti’s side.
