Stoke emerge as favourites to sign Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on loan Matt Law, football news correspondent
12 JULY 2017 • 4:37PM
Stoke City have emerged as favourites to sign Kurt Zouma on a season-long loan once the central defender has penned a new Chelsea contract.Zouma is poised to sign a new four-year contract with the Blues before heading out on loan for the forthcoming campaign.West Bromwich Albion and a host of foreign clubs have shown an interest in Zouma, but Stoke are expected to agree a deal for the 22-year-old that would see them cover his Chelsea wages.
Chelsea allowed Zouma to miss pre-season training on Wednesday while he attempted to finalise his loan move.Zouma remains highly rated at Chelsea, but will struggle to start regularly under head coach Antonio Conte after the signing of Antonio Rudiger and the decision to bring Andreas Christensen back.
Having missed nine months following a serious knee injury, both Zouma and Chelsea agree that he needs to play regular games to recover his best form. Zouma is also keen to try to fight his way back into the France squad in time for next summer’s World Cup after missing last year’s European Championships in his home country.
Securing Zouma to a long-term contract means that Chelsea will have the option of bringing him back to the club or demanding a big fee for him if he is a success at Stoke.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/07/12/stoke-emerge-favourites-sign-chelsea-defender-kurt-zouma-loan/