According to Téléfoot Kurt Zouma is expected to leave Chelsea this summer. Wolves, Tottenham, his former club Everton and Roma are all interested in signing the Frenchman. No potential fee has been reported by any trusted sources but we can expect Chelsea to demand quite a large sum of money for the 26-year-old. Zouma’s age means by typical standards he is just entering his prime which increases his stock quite a fair bit. His contract also lands Chelsea in a great place in terms of demanding a higher fee as his current deal is signed until 2023.
Kurt ‘Happy’ Zouma arrived at Chelsea from Saint-Étienne for a fee of around £13m. However, this fee was quickly justified with loan spells to Stoke and Everton which come with fees adding up to around £14m. Frank Lampard utilised Zouma especially well in his back four approach where he become a great goal threat from set pieces. Unfortunately Zouma has found it hard to find a regular starting spot under Thomas Tuchel. Kurt has been able to step in whenever injury occurs to Tuchel’s favoured back three and this is a testament to his skill and ability as he has been able to perform at the highest level without a lot of minutes to his name.
Zouma has reportedly declined Wolves approach and that leaves possible moves to Everton, Tottenham and Roma still on the table.
Everton have been interested in Zouma ever since his 2018/19 loan spell at Goodison Park. Zouma featured in 32 Premier League games for The Toffees and has been liked by the club ever since. The opportunity for Everton to snatch up the centre back has now arrived and Everton are definitely interested. No official bid has been recieved yet from Chelsea but due to their previous knowledge of Zouma’s ability we can assume Everton will be ready to splash the cash. A partnership with Ben Godfrey and Zouma is a top class defensive pairing that would cause any striker in the world a few problems and could be the answer to Everton’s defence that conceded 48 goals last season.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s arrival at Spurs has come with a lot of noise around potential strengthening of their defence. Tottenham have been linked with Maxence Lacroix, Takehiro Tomiyasu and now Kurt Zouma this summer and it seems apparent that Nuno will be backed leading into the upcoming season. As Chelsea fans we would like to assume that Zouma would not transfer to North London and to a direct rival of Chelsea’s.
Roma are also in the mix for a Kurt Zouma deal, with their approach seemingly centered around a Gianluca Mancini swap deal. Marina Granovskia is reportedly a big fan of the £27m rated defender and is hoping to pounce upon Roma’s financial troubles by bringing the 25-year-old in. The express has also reported Jose Mourinho’s stance on Chelsea potentially making a move for Mancini by saying “Jose Mourinho will request Kurt Zouma + £10m” for the Italian.
Another report surrounding Zouma is from RMC Sport who say that Roma want Zouma on a loan with an option to buy, but Chelsea have absolutely no intention of loaning him out. This same source claims that Chelsea want €30m (£25.6m) outright for Zouma. Italian clubs and asking for loans before a permanent deal is a tale as old as time and was also present in the Fikayo Tomori deal.
Mourinho has been a long time admirer of Zouma since 2014. Zouma was played in numerous positions in the 14/15 and 15/16 campaigns, including centre back, right back and defensive midfield. Mourinho brought 19-year-old Zouma to West London and didn’t hold back in his criticism of the promising youngster.
Zouma benefiited massively from Mourinho calling him “rubbish” in a private chat after a 3-1 defeat. Many youngsters complain about being used incorrectly by Mourinho and complain about his brash and brutally honest approach to trying to win, however Zouma refused to fall into this category.
In 2015, Zouma called Mourinho “the best coach in the world”. Mourinho’s high expectations for such a young man trying to adapt to the ways of English football propelled Zouma into the player he is today.
Kurt Zouma featured in 49 games in 2 seasons under the tutelage of the ‘Special One’. The trust Mourinho put in Zouma was exemplified when he was utilised as a defensive midfielder in a League Cup final against Spurs in 2015. Zouma even managed to register an assist in this game, leading Chelsea to their first trophy of the season.
Many people may remember John Terry and Kurt Zouma’s partnership throughout the 15/16 season and although it was Chelsea’s worst season in a long while, it showed the beginning of a great defender only just entering his 20’s.
After the transfer ban scandal when Frank Lampard and the club were scrambling about to find a defensive solution, Mourinho chimed in on the debate and spoke well of Kurt Zouma. “I just give an example: Chelsea needs a centre-back – Kurt Zouma! You don’t need to buy, you don’t need to spend. Zouma!”
Zouma going to Serie A would follow in the footsteps of his former teammate Fikayo Tomori and would immerse the Frenchman into a defence orientated league. Zouma is just entering his prime as a defender and Serie A + Mourinho would only help to enhance his defensive capabilities.
Zouma has found himself out of favour towards the ending of the 20/21 season, but the selling of Zouma would be very saddening to many Chelsea fans that have seen him grow as a young teenager into a top centre half.
The biggest catalyst to Zouma leaving Chelsea is not apparent yet but a deal could be on the cards if Chelsea formally approach Roma for Gianluca Mancini.
Written by Frankie
The Chelsea Spot 
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