A contract extension could be on the cards for Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma, who was courted by Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, as relayed by The Sun, Chelsea are keen on prolonging the stay of Kurt Zouma at Stamford Bridge by offering him a contract extension. The centre-back has impressed the onlookers, including manager Frank Lampard with his performances this season, notably becoming a first-team regular for the club.
Lampard even sees Zouma as a “future leader” for the club as he looks to build the core of Chelsea’s transition. It could, however, serve as a massive blow for Tottenham Hotspur, who were linked with a move for the defender in the summer transfer window. Although a move didn’t materialise, it is needless to say that Jose Mourinho will be on the market for a new centre-back in January.
Chelsea, though, could be equally desperate for defensive reinforcements when the transfer window reopens as Zouma has been the only real consistent performer in a season where the club’s lacklustre defence was once again highlighted.
New signing Thiago Silva failed to provide stability at the back despite all his experience. In fact, he has a relatively rough start to his Premier League campaign while another international defender in Antonio Rudiger is facing an uncertain future at the club. The German was even linked with a move to Tottenham earlier in the summer.
The continued presence of a robust defender like Zouma, therefore, could serve Chelsea from once again spending big – this time in the defensive department. It essentially means that Lampard could find a nice balance in the backline with the addition of a more technical centre-back, which should combine well with Zouma’s physicality and aggression.
For Tottenham, they have had some difficulties regarding their consistency at the back with the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld failing to maintain their performances week in week out. They had signed Swansea defender Joe Rodon during the domestic transfer window, but the Welshman is yet to play a key role in the first-team.
Zouma, in that regard, could have been an ideal signing for Spurs. The Frenchman already has a good relationship with Jose Mourinho, having worked together at Chelsea and his disciplined game would have been tailor-made for his tactical philosophy at the club. That said, the Lilywhites are more than expected to go back into the market for a new centre-back in the upcoming January transfer window.
