Zouma needs minutes to help his form improve alongside his fitness.
Napoli could attempt to take Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on loan in January as the France international looks for regular game time to help him return to full fitness, Calciomercato report.
Zouma suffered a horrific knee injury against Manchester United in February and has not featured for The Blues first-team since, although the 22-year-old did come through 90 minutes unscathed against Oxford in the Checkatrade Trophy earlier this month.
However, the former Saint Etienne starlet may have a challenge on his hands in order to break into Antonio Conte’s revamped Chelsea defence, with the switch to a 3-5-2 resulting in five consecutive Premier League clean-sheets with even David Luiz and Gary Cahill, who started the season in decidedly erratic fashion, appearing composed and assured at the back.
As a result, Calciomercato report that Chelsea may look to send Zouma away on loan to give him the minutes required to step up his recovery and Napoli will be more than happy to oblige.
Ironically, Maurizio Sarri needs reinforcements to cover the departure of someone ESPN, among others, reported as being one of Conte’s top summer targets, Kalidou Koulibaly, with the Senegalese international due to take part in the African Cup of Nations in the New Year.
Zouma, an athletic, physically imposing centre-back, is similar to Koulibaly both in style and stature although, unlike many of their Serie A rivals, Sarri prefers to deploy his defence in an orthodox back four.
Consequently, a period of adaptation may well be required once the Frenchman returns to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
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