Everton boss Marco Silva wants to test Chelsea’s resolve on Kurt Zouma by offering to take the Frenchman on a second loan deal before the season begins.
Chelsea’s transfer embargo has kept them quiet in this summer window, although that has not prevented the club from selling their players. Between now and the beginning of the season, there are chances the Blues might lose some more of their stars as rivals gather pace. According to The Sun, Everton are in line to approach Chelsea to take Kurt Zouma on a second loan stint.
What the report suggests is Marco Silva wants to bring Zouma back to the team on another loan deal. Zouma played his football at Goodison Park last season on-loan and very much impressed the Everton boss. The Frenchman became Silva’s first-choice central defender during last season, and the Portuguese is keen on working with him again.
But, things are a bit more complicated than we can understand. Chelsea’s transfer ban means Frank Lampard has to make do with existing players in his side. Since the end of last season, long-serving centre-half Gary Cahill has left the club, leaving Chelsea’s defensive options thin.
As things stand, Antonio Rudiger is set to miss the start of the season through injury. It means Chelsea have only Andreas Christensen, David Luiz and Zouma as their three senior centre-backs. Even when Rudiger does arrive, Zouma is expected to provide cover, although an injury crisis will leave them bare at the back during the season.
Lampard had earlier suggested he was open to giving everyone at the club a chance to prove their worth. While the reaction in pre-season has been a mixed one, the Chelsea manager is not about to let one of his central defenders leave. Additionally, Zouma too feels he might have a good season at Stamford Bridge after some problematic years with injury problems that curtailed his development.
He was recently quoted saying, “I enjoyed my time at Everton, but I’m a Chelsea player, and we’ll see what will happens in the future. I think it will be here at Chelsea. “This is a chance for me. I went out on loan last season, but I’m a Chelsea player, and I want to do well to get my chance and be here.”
From the player’s perspective, it seems like he wants to stay, but Everton, despite knowing Chelsea’s situation this summer are still hopeful. The fact that Chelsea are yet to tell them about their intentions with Zouma outright has given the Toffees some hope in their pursuit of the Frenchman.
However, all things considered, it does look like Lampard will keep Zouma at the club, at least for this season. As for Everton, they need to look elsewhere to shore up their defence and not waste too much time pursuing the Chelsea defender.
