Should Chelsea Sell Zouma In The Summer?
According to latest reports from the Sun, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is planning a shocking swoop for Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Frenchman has spent most of the season on the sidelines due to an injury he suffered last year but made a comeback to the first-team recently. However, he isn’t a regular in the three-man defence for Antonio Conte’s side and Mourinho is hoping to capitalise on the situation.
The 22-year old has made only 11 appearances in the ongoing campaign across all competitions and has made just 2 starts in the Premier League. However, the Red Devils manager knows the abilities of Zouma, after having managed the centre-back during his second spell with Chelsea.
United have been bothered by injuries to key personnel in defence throughout the course of the season. Summer signing Eric Bailly, who has by far been the best centre-half for the Red Devils this season had a lengthy spell out on the sidelines in the early parts of the campaign and picked up another injury against Swansea City on Sunday. Fellow defenders Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones too have been hampered by injury troubles, as has been the case with Chris Smalling.
The manager has been particularly critical of Smalling and Jones in recent weeks and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he decides to sell either of the pair in the summer and it makes sense that Mourinho is looking to add bodies to his defensive line in the transfer window.
Zouma is someone who the Portuguese tactician trusts immensely. Mourinho blooded the 22-year old into the Chelsea first-team replacing club captain John Terry with the youngster during his second spell at Stamford Bridge. He is well aware of what the defender is capable of and also sees him as an option in the midfield, having deployed Zouma in the defensive midfield role on quite a number of occasions with the Blues.
So it makes sense for Mourinho to see Zouma as a potential summer transfer target. But should the Blues consider selling the Frenchman? That too to a direct rival in the league?
The answer is an emphatic no.
Chelsea have been spoilt for riches in the centre-back department this season. The first-choice defensive trio of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have been performing admirably well and they have more than able backups in captain John Terry and youngster Nathan Ake, along with Zouma himself. They will be joined by the exciting Andreas Christensen for the next season, when his two-year loan spell with German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach comes to an end.
While they look more than well-equipped to deal with the potential exit of Zouma, the club should consider the fact that Terry will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Also, Cahill isn’t getting any younger and will need to be managed carefully in the coming seasons.
Considering that Chelsea will be involved in the Champions League next season, they will be playing many more games than they have done in the ongoing campaign, which would mean Conte utilising his players more prudently. This will mean that the Italian will need the services of Zouma over the course of the season much more than what has been seen this time around. The 22-year old too could be tempted to stay, despite playing so less this season, as the prospect of Champions League football could prove too enticing to turn down.
So, if Mourinho does come calling in the summer, Chelsea should not even consider the possibility of selling Zouma, who has shown great potential. He is capable of growing into a mainstay in the backline for the West Londoners for many years.