Everton and Chelsea have reportedly begun negotiations regarding the potential permanent transfer of Kurt Zouma, but would spending the possibly high transfer fee be worth it?
The Telegraph report that Everton are still hopeful of securing a deal for the 24-year old defender, despite Chelsea’s transfer ban this summer.
The France international spent last season on loan at Goodison Park, and Marco Silva has made clear his intention to bring the centre-back to Merseyside on a permanent basis.
Zouma has been told personally that he is wanted back at Everton, while Everton will hope that Chelsea will let Zouma go with the promise of first-team football for the defender not clear at Stamford Bridge.
Any deal for Zouma is not expected to be cheap, however. The Frenchman signed for Chelsea in January 2014 for around £12million, and the defender has undoubtedly grown and improved as a player since then.
Zouma was a mainstay in Everton’s starting line-up last season, which Chelsea can use to their advantage to leverage more money from the Toffees, while he is also contracted to the club until 2023; all reasons why he definitely won’t come cheap.
If Everton do find a way to convince Chelsea to sell however, the club must go all out to bring him back to Goodison Park.
Zouma and Michael Keane struck up a strong partnership last season, and Marco Silva would be best served maintaining and growing that pairing rather than trying to create a new duo.
Zouma was defensively solid, and offered a goal threat on occasion, and with Phil Jagielka having also left this summer, the club are in desperate need to bring centre-backs in and Zouma is one that the club can rely on.
With Andre Gomes also set to join this week, it would be a good message that Everton are prepared to reward players who perform well for them, and it would go some way to seeing the club continue to grow and strengthen.
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