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Stoke, West Brom top loan spots for Kurt Zouma to play, continue recovery

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Lee Angol of Peterborough United (R) and Kurt Zouma of Chelsea (L) battle for possession during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Peterborough United at Stamford Bridge on January 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Lee Angol of Peterborough United (R) and Kurt Zouma of Chelsea (L) battle for possession during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Peterborough United at Stamford Bridge on January 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) /
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As expected, Antonio Rudiger’s arrival opened the door for Kurt Zouma to go on loan. Stoke and West Bromwich Albion are his likely destinations, with the latter having a slight edge as the better deal.

Antonio Rudiger’s arrival and Andreas Christensen’s return brought Kurt Zouma to a fork in the road. He could face a steep uphill fight for a place in the starting XI or he could spend a year on loan elsewhere in the Premier League. Zouma chose the option with the better chance of consistent playing time. He will meet this week with Stoke and West Bromwich Albion about what a season on loan would look like.

Either team would drill Zouma in traditional English defensive tactics and formations. Zouma would have minimal responsibility for playing the ball out from the back or pushing up the field.

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This would not be very specific preparation for playing in an Antonio Conte side, given the versatility and mobility he demands from his centre-backs. However, after a year under Tony Pulis or Mark Hughes, he will be ready for any physical challenges this side of the amount of running Antonio Conte demands.

Stoke and West Brom may also be a way of restoring Zouma’s confidence as he continues his return to full duty from injury. If he can play as physically as those teams demand and have the confidence in his body and movement to do so, he will again be ready for anything Antonio Conte has waiting for him.

Both clubs are among the Premier League’s best for preventing injuries and minimizing games lost to injury. West Brom have the Premier League’s top physio and strength & conditioning staff. They had the fewest number of man-games lost to injury last season. Their staff are uniquely competent in monitoring and continuing to rehabilitate Zouma. Stoke were the fifth best team for injury prevention (Chelsea were second).

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Chelsea are showing particular attention this season to making the perfect match between players and loan clubs. Rather than some of the haphazard assignments of previous seasons, there are obvious, logical fits among this summer’s loans.

Kurt Zouma’s top priority is to finish his recovery from the ACL tear and be ready to handle Antonio Conte’s training and conditioning ahead of the 2018/19 season. Both Stoke and West Brom will square away the physical, defensive aspects of his game while also attending to his rehabilitation needs.

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West Brom has the edge given their perennial ability to prevent injury, and to minimize games lost when things do go wrong. A year as a Baggie may give Zouma the best chance of enjoying many subsequent years as a Blue.

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