Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is ‘looking into’ the idea of signing Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma this summer as he hunts for a new centre back.
The Italian coach is keen to add to his centre back options to provide further competition to Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate and Michael Keane.
Everton have thus been linked to several centre backs across Europe, chief among them Lille’s Gabriel Magalhães.
The Blues appeared to have won the race for his signature earlier this year, with him reportedly undergoing a medical and agreeing terms with the club.
However, the Coronavirus has delayed the deal considerably, with it now widely reported that they have pulled back on a deal and that the Brazilian will instead be heading to Napoli.
If that is the case, Everton will need to look at other options, and according to Le 10 Sport, the latest name added to the list is Zouma’s.
The website explains that Ancelotti has launched ‘major manoeuvres’ to find a centre-back this summer and ‘activated several tracks’ in that regard.
Magalhães was one of them, but he is now ‘well on the way’ to signing for Napoli, and so Ancelotti is ‘exploring other possibilities’.
One of them is Zouma, who he is ‘looking into’ according to the report.
The Chelsea defender, who has a deal until 2023, could be available this summer and was recently linked with a surprise move to Paris Saint Germain.
Everton are now exploring the idea of a move, though, with the player well known to them already after spending last season on loan at Goodison Park.
That was a deal they were keen to turn into a permanent one in the summer only for Chelsea, particularly manager Frank Lampard, to block the move.
Zouma had been a regular under Lampard, managing 19 starts in the league, but he’s made just two appearances since the New Year and been on the bench for all three games since the restart.
That is a hint he may not be in Lampard’s long-term plans, something Everton could be ready to test again this summer.
