Kurt Zouma reportedly set for Monaco loan as Chelsea decide he isn’t ready
Chelsea have made Kurt Zouma available for a loan move away from the club next season after deciding that he isn’t quite ready for first team duties at Stamford Bridge next season, with the Frenchman set to move back to his native land and sign for Monaco, as reported by the Daily Star.
Zouma signed for Chelsea in a £12million deal from St Etienne in January, with the player loaned back to the club for the remainder of the season at his own behest, but he was expected to challenge for a place in the squad after the departure of David Luiz to Paris St Germain.
Some have talked Zouma up as a potential successor to John Terry and he was expected to be heavily involved in first team affairs, but manager Jose Mourinho has decided that the 19-year-old is not ready to be a part of his squad and is planning to loan the defender out for the 2014/15 season.
Sunderland had been keen on taking up that option with Gus Poyet looking to bolster his defensive ranks ahead of the new campaign, but it looks as though they may miss out on his signature as Mourinho is attracted by the option of sending him out to a top level club.
Thibaut Courtois has returned to Chelsea after impressing for Atletico in the Champions League, and Monaco will be competing in Europe’s premier club competition next season, after finishing as runners up in Ligue Un last season.
They are the preferred option of Chelsea for Zouma to continue his footballing education next season, leaving a heavy possibility that the Blues will enter the transfer market for another centre-back this summer, with only Terry and Gary Cahill currently on the books as senior centre-backs.