Everton are stepping up their efforts to sign Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma, according to reports in England.
The Blues could be prepared to sell the Frenchman if a bid in excess of £30m is made, but the final decision will be down to the club’s next manager.
With most expecting it to be Frank Lampard, Chelsea fans on Twitter are hoping that the new boss opts to keep Zouma at Stamford Bridge:
Come on Frankie don’t let him go
— Luke Willis (@LukeWillis90) 27 June 2019
Lampards a clever man. I highly doubt he actually thinks selling him is a good idea
— SuperAC (@SuperAidi) 27 June 2019
Really want him to stay. Love this guy both on and off the field. Deserves the chance to start in my opinion.
— Steiny (@Steiny517) 27 June 2019
Please play him Lampard!!
— Arka Seth (@Jompson1) 27 June 2019
Really hope we keep him, big fan big player imo
— Mark Cameron (@MarkCam90467892) 27 June 2019
we would be stupid to let such a good player go, no 2 ways about it, and with a transfer ban looming, total nonsense
— panicosvarnava (@panicosvarnava) 27 June 2019
Zouma is key for the future and present. Can easily see him being our best CB nezt year. #CFC
— Lampard’s Blues (@LampardsBlues) 27 June 2019
Come on Frank keep Zouma.
— Richard Langan (@RichardLangan2) 27 June 2019
Absolutely not. Can be a boss for us next year
— Matt King (@MKingy25) 27 June 2019
think we need him more!
Surely he would be just behind Luiz and Rudiger in the pecking order..??— Col (@colincheam) 27 June 2019
With the club’s transfer ban, the Blues are unable to bring in a replacement for Zouma. Currently, the Frenchman is one of four centre-halves along with David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
A lot will depend on how highly Lampard ranks Fikayo Tomori. The 21-year-old was Derby’s player of the season under Lampard’s management, and he could be seen as a decent alternative to Zouma.
Considering the Frenchman has much more experience than Tomori in the Premier League, having made 113 appearances in the top flight, it would be a gamble to sell him.