Everton manager Marco Silva last night provided a brief update on his side’s chase of Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.
Everton stint
French stopper Zouma has been on the books of Chelsea for 5 years, having made the move to London from Saint-Etienne in 2014.
However, the 5-time capped international has since struggled to hold down any sort of consistent starting berth at Stamford Bridge, leading to a pair of loan stints away from the club over the last two seasons.
The latest of these saw Zouma line out for Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Everton in 2018/19.
The 24-year-old’s spell at Goodison Park proved hugely successful, with Zouma having formed a solid defensive partnership alongside Michael Keane at the heart of the Toffees’ back-4.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Kurt Zouma of Everton looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Everton and Rotherham United at Goodison Park on August 29, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
As such, it has since come as little surprise to learn that Everton are keen to make his arrival permanent this summer.
Multiple reports have insisted that the Merseyside outfit are working hard on Zouma’s signing.
The Telegraph warned last month, though, that the powerhouse stopper ‘will not come cheap’, with Chelsea in the midst of a transfer ban, and short of options at centre-half.
Everton open negotiations with Chelsea over Kurt Zouma transferhttps://t.co/rJzyxvhWmG
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 20, 2019
‘Give our fans this fantastic feeling’
As such, Everton boss Marco Silva was asked for an update on the situation last night.
Speaking in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, the Spaniard confirmed that he remains ‘hopeful’ of a deal being struck with Chelsea, but was also quick to point to the possibility of targeting ‘different solutions’:
‘I am hopeful.’
‘I think I am hopeful like all of our fans are. But I have to tell you that we have different solutions because we cannot just have one solution. I have different solutions in my mind but I am hopeful and if we can give our fans this fantastic feeling it will be key.’
Silva continued:
‘If not, we have to go in a different way. But it is part of the market, part of creating a squad.’
‘After that position we have three or four more to strengthen.’
Hudson-Odoi hopeful of new Chelsea deal in next few weeks – BBC
