Report: Chelsea demand £25.6m for 26-year-old star amid interest from former boss

Chelsea slap £25.6m valuation on Kurt Zouma amid AS Roma interest

According to journalist Loic Tanzi (h/t Metro), Chelsea have slapped a price tag worth £25.6m on French defender Kurt Zouma amid interest from AS Roma.

Zouma signed for Chelsea in January 2014 from boyhood club Saint Etienne, spending the second half of the 2013/14 campaign in France on loan. Upon arriving at the club in the summer later that year, the centre-back was given his big break by Jose Mourinho at the Bridge.

While he impressed initially, mistakes crept into his game, while fitness problems also saw him drop down the pecking order, especially after Mourinho’s departure. As a result, Zouma spent the 2017/18 and the 2018/19 seasons out on loan at Stoke City and Everton, respectively, impressing heavily, particularly in the latter.

Back at Chelsea, he was given a chance by Frank Lampard in 2019 and he eventually grew into a regular in the starting XI. However, the 26-year-old was once again in and out of the side in the previous campaign, especially under Thomas Tuchel, who preferred the defensive trio of Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger with Andreas Christensen as cover.

With Chelsea in the market for another new defender, Zouma could fall further down the pecking order and the club are now ready to cash in on him this summer. The 26-year-old’s situation has led to interest from Serie A side AS Roma, where Zouma’s former mentor Mourinho is in charge now. (h/t Metro)

The Italians were hoping to sign the Frenchman on loan before discussing a permanent transfer next summer. However, Chelsea have ruled out that possibility, slapping a £25.6m on Zouma.

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It remains to be seen if Roma are willing to meet that valuation, although it could be difficult given their financial plight due to the pandemic. Even then, Zouma’s future at the Bridge looks bleak and a summer exit seems very much on the cards at this point.