Kurt Zouma will not try to force through a move to Everton | OneFootball

Kurt Zouma has not handed in a transfer request at Chelsea, despite reports suggesting he has.

That’s according to the Daily Star, who claim rumours that Zouma is trying to force through a summer move to Everton are false.

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at Goodison Park and Toffees boss Marco Silva is reportedly keen to bring the Frenchman back to Merseyside in a permanent deal.

However, new Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has publicly stated his desire to keep Zouma at Stamford Bridge, especially in light of the club’s transfer ban.

“I want him here, simple as that,” Lampard told reporters over the weekend.

“We are competitive with the centre-backs we have in the team and he had a very good season at Everton and I can understand why they want him.

“He’s a Chelsea player and I want him.”

The Blues are expected to loan out England U21 international Fikayo Tomori, leaving Zouma to compete with Antonio Rüdiger, David Luiz and Andreas Christensen for the two centre-back spots.

Everton, meanwhile, are still hoping to sign a central defender this summer and Silva admitted on Saturday that with time running out before the transfer window closes, they may be forced to move on to alternate targets.

“It is not an easy situation, we are working on the other solutions because we cannot wait until the last week or the last day to take one player,” he said.

“We will see in the next days and next week to see if it will be possible or not, if not we have to go to the other solutions I have in my mind.”