French Defender Confirms Talks With Mourinho Over Potential Chelsea Move

With the January transfer window now open for business clubs will be working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Kurt Zouma reveals talks with Jose Mourinho.

Saint Etienne defender Kurt Zouma has revealed that he’s held talks with Jose Mourinho about a potential switch to Chelsea and he would jump at the chance to move to Stamford Bridge, according to reports today.

Zouma has become one of the most highly-rated defenders in French football since breaking in to the Saint Etienne first team set up in 20011. The 19-year-old now has over 50 appearances under his belt and has earned caps at every youth level for the France national team as well as a call-up to the senior squad.

His impressive displays have seen him linked with a whole of top European clubs in recent months and the defender has now revealed that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho made contact with him last month.

“There was advanced contact last month,”

“At the start I thought it was a joke but afterwards I quickly took his call seriously.

“When a great man like Jose Mourinho calls a little player like Kurt Zouma, it’s nice. It doesn’t happen every day and it’s a big sign of respect and confidence.” Zouma is quoted as saying by ESPN

Chelsea are one of several clubs who are understood to be keen on signing the 6′ 3″ centre-back with reports suggesting the west Londoners are confident they can see off competition from the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle to secure his signature at the end of the season, and the player has admitted he would jump at the chance of moving to Stamford Bridge. He continued:

“If you tell me to go to Chelsea, I’ll go there immediately! Especially after the call from the coach. It’s given me ideas.” Zouma is quoted as saying by ESPN

Zouma’s contract runs until 2017 and it seems Saint Etienne have agreed to cash in on him this summer with ESPN claiming the Ligue 1 outfit will demand around £10m for his services, and the player has hinted he’s ready to try his luck abroad.

“I’m playing my third season in Ligue 1,” he said. “In June, it will be time to go and see how things happen elsewhere. Why not a step up in France? For me, Saint-Etienne are already a big club.

“But after that, the top teams are Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. It would be a good career plan. Abroad, it’s make or break. But it’s a risk worth taking.” Zouma is quoted as saying by ESPN

While Zouma is considered as one of the best young talents in France, he came under huge criticism following a horror challenge on Thomas Geurbert earlier in the season that broke the Sochaux man’s leg. Zouma was handed a 10-game ban for the incident but is set to return to action this weekend after serving his suspension.

Chelsea’s John Terry is out of contract at the end of the season, so it’s possible Mourinho sees Zouma as a potential replacement for the veteran defender. Even if the skipper extends his stay at Stamford Bridge, at 33 he’s now coming towards the end of his career so the Blues are going to have to think to the future and Zouma would be an excellent long-term option.

READ ALSO: Chelsea confirm £21m signing

There is of course plenty of competition for his signature, but judging by his comments above, the player would be very-much open to a move to Chelsea should they decide to make their interest official at the end of the season.

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