Chelsea youngster Kurt Zouma has been linked with a possible move to German club Schalke 04. Widely popular and reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims that negotiations over a deal for the 21-year-old defender are progressing well between Chelsea and Schalke 04 and that the two clubs will most likely come to an agreement on a loan with an option for Schalke 04 to buy the player permanently at the end of the season.
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The German club already have a Chelsea defender on loan in their ranks in Baba Rahman but it seems they are still looking to solidify their defence further. Zouma was sidelined by injury in February, when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a game against Manchester United.
Unfortunately, the injury put an end to his Premier League season and prevented the young defender from participating in the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament hosted in his home country. The Frenchman has returned to training recently, but it looks like he may be on his way to Germany before the transfer window shuts in a few days’ time.
Also read: 5 long-term injury absentees who will be back with a vengeance next season
Kurt Zouma broke into the Chelsea first team last season and showed his athleticism and defensive abilities for all to see. The club have been on the lookout for a central defender in this transfer window but weren’t able to land any of their targets. They approached Napoli in an attempt to sign Kalidou Koulibaly but failed to do so.
They also tried to lure Alessio Romagnoli from AC Milan, but were unsuccessful in that endeavour too. The one reinforcement Chelsea did make across their back line is Marcos Alonso, the left-back they’ve acquired on loan from Fiorentina.
The fact that Antonio Conte is willing to let a talented centre-back like Zouma leave on loan when they’ve tried and failed to strengthen that very position is slightly confusing, and the reactions on social media indicate that the fans feel the same. Chelsea supporters expressed anger, disbelief, confusion and despair on finding out about the possible deal, and some of them are even convinced that the board is out to destroy the club.
While that last bit is probably not true, the fans are right to be concerned about the loan. However, it’s the option to make a permanent deal that will truly worry the Stamford Bridge faithful, as it appears the club are willing to let one of their top prospects go so easily, and probably not for a very large sum.
