Chelsea to send Defender out on loan after struggling for first team football at Stamford Bridge?

Kurt Zouma has had a disappointing season after recovering from a horrific knee injury. A decision has been made to send him out on loan next season.

Everything was looking good personally for Kurt Zouma in the Chelsea first team. He was playing regularly two seasons ago and became an important part of our back four until disaster struck and he suffered that horrific cruciate knee injury after landing awkwardly against Manchester United which ruled him out of the rest of the season.

It's of great credit to Zouma and the Chelsea Medical team that he managed to recover from his surgery, to recuperate and then to work hard to build strength in his knee to make a full recovery earlier than expected. He was declared fit and available and made his return to action having missed NINE months back in October as he played for 45 minutes for the Chelsea under-23 side.

The problem for Zouma at that time was that Antonio Conte had already made his tactical switch to a back three which as we know featured Cesar Azpilicueta on the right, David Luiz through the middle and Gary Cahill on the left hand side. Those three formed a fantastic defensive unit with the protection of N'Golo Kante in front of them, that they became our foundation in the Premier League.

Kurt Zouma found himself in the same situation as John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic upon his return to the first team squad and has had to settle for substitute appearances in the League and starts in the Cup competitions under the latter stages in the FA Cup with Nathan Ake being selected ahead of him in the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham who had returned from a successful loan spell at Bournemouth in the first part of the season.

With reports that Antonio Conte is looking to spend money on new defenders rather than give a chance to the likes of Zouma, Ake and Andreas Christensen who is due to return to the club from his loan spell in Germany, it seems that a loan deal for the young French defender will suit all parties.

Reports would have you believe that he has already been offered to Marseille and Nice with Inter Milan also interested. Expect him to play regular football next season, just not at Chelsea.

Article Source: Metro.