Kurt Zouma will reportedly be available to loan from Chelsea in the summer – and Newcastle United appears to be the perfect destination.
Newcastle United are tracking St Etienne defender Mickael Nade, France Football reports, a talented young centre-back dubbed ‘the new Kurt Zouma’.
Instead, however, perhaps The Magpies could target the actual, real-life Kurt Zouma instead. The Mirror claims that the prodigious Frenchman could be sent on loan by Chelsea next season to give him the game time he needs to recover from a cruciate ligament injury that kept him on the sidelines for over a year.
Zouma remains a major part of Chelsea’s long-term plans but, with the Champions in-waiting edging closer to striking a deal for Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk, according to The Sun, the 22-year-old’s desire for more regular minutes may be dashed.
The France international has started just two Premier League games all season – despite Antonio Conte favouring a new-look back three.
Va Va Zoum
However, Newcastle would surely jump at the chance to handing Zouma the chance to get his career back on track at St James’ Park. The Independent reports that manager Rafael Benitez is on the lookout for an experienced Premier League defender and Zouma, who already has a league title to his name in a sensational debut season at Stamford Bridge in 2014/15, fits the bill.
Combining natural pace and fearsome power with intelligent reading of the game, the former St Etienne phenomenon is exactly the kind of proven talent Newcastle need to sign to ensure their return to the top flight is more than just a fleeting visit.
With Jamaal Lascelles enduring an error-ridden 2017 and Ciaran Clark relegated in humiliating fashion with Aston Villa just a year ago, Zouma’s addition would at least calm the nerves of some supporters believing their squad is far from Premier League ready.
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