St Etienne’s Zouma could join Matic at Stamford Bridge.
Saint-Etienne defender Kurt Zouma has been a transfer target for Chelsea for the past 18 months and the player’s agent admits the Frenchman is in talks with English clubs.
The 19-year-old has been impressing in Ligue 1 for two-and-a-half years since breaking into the first team after progressing from the St Etienne youth academy and has played 60 matches for the club in all competitions.
Now Zouma’s agent Alexandre Bonneford has given the biggest hint yet that the centre-back could move to Stamford Bridge in this January window.
“Some big clubs are interested in signing Kurt,” Bonneford was quoted by the Metro.
“There are some talks with teams from Italy, France and especially England.”
The French side are prepared to let their starlet leave the club before the window closes, but will command a fee of around £13m if the Blues or any other interested party wants to sign Zouma.
The France under-21 international is likely to be joining Benfica’s Nemanja Matic in west London, should the teenager decide to make the move.
Matic is expected to complete a £25m transfer in the coming days and will become the club’s first major signing of 2014.
The arrival of Zouma would also probably signal the end of David Luiz’s time under Jose Mourinho’s guidance, with the Brazilian linked with a £29m switch to Barcelona.
Mourinho has been unsure of Luiz’s defensive capabilities and although has utilised the 26-year-old in midfield, would still allow the South American to leave if the price was right.
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