Yet another Chelsea player linked with a loan move to either La Liga or the Premier League.

The immediate future of Kurt Zouma is under the spotlight this morning with reports that Antonio Conte has sanctioned a loan move for the coming season for the 22-year-old French defender. 

Kurt Zouma faces a tough decision with one eye on the World Cup next summer. Having battled back from a serious knee injury to full fitness last season, he was used sparingly by Antonio Conte and will be looking for more serious involvement this time around.

However, that seems to not be at Stamford Bridge with reports that Conte has decided that Zouma needs to be playing regular first team football to aid his full rehabilitation back into the game and a loan move is best for all concerned this year.

That would be a blow for Zouma who had made such an impression at the club since he signed for £12m back in January 2014. Everything for him personally was looking positive with plenty of first team appearances in the woeful season two years ago. He had managed to cement his place in the side under Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink but to then sustain a serious knee injury that kept him out of the game for six months.

I really like Kurt Zouma and it would be a shame to see him playing elsewhere this season but we have to consider his own personal situation here. There is plenty of room for improvement as far as his game is concerned (with his control and use of the ball in particular) but with a full season under his belt ahead of the World Cup, that should hopefully improve.

The problem he has at Chelsea is our settled back three of Azpi, Luiz and Cahill. If you add to that Toni Rudiger who has just signed and the returning Andreas Christensen who looks like being given a chance under Conte this year, then Zouma would have a job on his hands to get games at Chelsea if we are honest.

A loan move seems to suit all parties concerned and now it's just about a decision being made as to where he will go with reports that Valencia, Stoke and West Ham have all made enquiries of his availability.

Let's hope that Kurt Zouma really makes his mark on the Premier League before the World Cup next summer and his subsequent return to Chelsea this time next year.