Zouma could leave Chelsea if Kounde is signed and West Ham offer escape route | OneFootball

Kurt Zouma faces an uncertain future at Chelsea.

The 26-year-old featured heavily in the last two seasons but fell down the pecking order after Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as manager in January.

Chelsea are now closing in on a potential replacement in Jules Kounde, opening the door for West Ham United to strike.

The Hammers are trying to capitalise on the situation by promising Zouma first-team football as they are in the market for a centre-back

However, the French international is happy to stay at Chelsea if the move falls through.

Could Zouma leave?

It’s possible. Zouma already has Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rüdiger and Thiago Silva without including Kounde, so his chances of getting regular game time this season are slim.

He has made 150 appearances in all competitions since joining Chelsea from Saint-Etienne in 2014 but featured in just 10 of 22 Premier League games from January onwards, coincidentally when Tuchel replaced Lampard.

If Zouma feels he’s surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, West Ham become an attractive position.

The Hammers finished sixth in the Premier League last season and are desperate for a defender this summer, so Zouma could get the regular playing time he craves.

Who is Kounde?

A talented 22-year-old defender who’s made 89 appearances in all competitions for Sevilla since joining from Bordeaux in 2019.

Kounde is rated highly and was named in France’s 26-man squad for the 2020 European Championships, so his future looks bright.

If signed, that would likely spell disaster for Zouma’s hopes of starting regularly at Chelsea, so he has plenty to consider this summer.

Stats from Transfermarkt.

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