Chelsea are reportedly resuming their pursuit of Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. The acquisition would not be worthwhile if it came at the expense of loaning Kurt Zouma.
Virgil van Dijk has been one of Chelsea’s top transfer targets since the beginning of the season, and has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. Southampton could demand up to £50 million to sell him. Van Dijk’s steep price tag is arguably prohibitive, although it is well within Chelsea’s budget. However, he may cost something more valuable: Kurt Zouma’s future at Chelsea.
The Telegraph reports that Virgil van Dijk’s arrival would precipitate a loan for Kurt Zouma. Between Chelsea’s current back-line, Zouma, Nathan Ake and the returning Andreas Christensen, Chelsea have more centre-backs than they have opportunities to play them, even with the Champions League.
One of thm would need to go on loan in order to play consistently next season. Christensen will demand a transfer if he does not have regular playing time. Chelsea recalled Ake from his loan to Bournemouth mid-season, indicating that he is part of next year’s plans. That leaves Zouma packing his bags.
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Zouma has played 153 minutes in the Premier League this season, to go with four appearances (three starts) in the FA Cup. By the time he was fully fit to return, Antonio Conte had already set his immovable back-three. Like every other fringe player, Zouma relies on late-game substitutions and injuries for his few opportunities.
Zouma would have been in the mix from day one if not for his injury. He has the height Cesar Azpilicueta lacks and the movement that Gary Cahill lacks. He is as imposing in the air as either Cahill or David Luiz. There can be little doubt he can handle the (wait for it) physicality of the league. The main thing he does not have is Premier League experience.
Bringing in Virgil van Dijk and loaning Kurt Zouma to make room would send a grim message to Chelsea’s younger players. A prolonged absence due to injury is difficult enough. Going through the rehab and fitness checks can be a stressful, trying process as your return-to-action date always seems just out of reach. Chelsea would make such situations immeasurably worse by introducing the fear that – just as you are ready to return – you could get pipped at the post by a new transfer.
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Loaning Kurt Zouma is incongruous with how Antonio Conte integrated Zouma into the club’s pre-season activities. Conte brought Zouma on the pre-season tour of the United States, even though Zouma could barely train, let alone play. Conte wanted Zouma to learn the tactics by watching, and to feel like he was a true Blue even if he was on the sidelines.
Chelsea would erase all of that goodwill by loaning Zouma to make room for van Dijk. Even if a loan brought him consistent playing time, he would be understandably less than Happy to be even farther from Chelsea’s XI than he was while injured.
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Chelsea already have one centre-back on loan with no interest of coming back and fulfilling his promise with the Blues. It would be a new level of shameful if they set Kurt Zouma down that path.