Rumour: Sunderland chasing loan deal for Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma in action for Saint-Etienne

Chelsea’s talented young centre back Kurt Zouma could be set for a loan move to Sunderland and the Black Cats are hopeful that their sporting director’s past with Chelsea will help secure the deal.

Zouma, 19, signed for Chelsea from Saint-Etienne in France in January and he spent the second half of the season at his former club on loan.

However the teenager has retained a hope that he would be allowed the chance to prove himself in the first team next season but the Guardian are reporting that Sunderland want to offer Chelsea the prospect of loan football for their starlet.

Zouma is still very young but he has already made a huge impression on French football with most considering him one of the best young defenders in the world right now. Additionally his incredible physique means that he is more than ready to move to the Premier League.

Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton worked with Jose Mourinho as a youth coach during the Portuguese’s first spell in charge of Chelsea. He later moved to Hamburg before joining Sunderland in March. This summer he has already signed Billy Jones, Costel Pantilimon and Jordi Gomez on free transfers.

Chelsea have already sold David Luiz leaving them with just John Terry and Gary Cahill as the first choice centre backs although Branislav Ivanovic is more than capable of filling in.

Young defender Tomas Kalas has already been allowed to join Cologne on a season long loan but Chelsea do have Kenneth Omeruo also returning from loan and the Nigerian defender has given a strong account of himself in the World Cup so far.

Alternatively it is well known that the Chelsea boss retains a strong interest in Real Madrid Raphael Varane and the Portuguese manager may be persuaded to try and bring the French centre back to Stamford Bridge.