Chelsea manager Frank Lampard wants to keep reported Everton target Kurt Zouma

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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has underlined his desire to keep French defender Kurt Zouma at the club during the transfer window.

Speaking to the club’s official Twitter account following a 1-0 defeat against Kawasaki Frontale in pre-season, Lampard said wants Zouma to remain at Stamford Bridge for the coming campaign.

Zouma spent last season on loan at Everton and back in June, the Telegraph reported that the Toffees had opened talks about buying the defender this summer.

Since then, Lampard has been appointed manager and with Chelsea’s transfer ban in place this summer, it’s understandable that they want to keep Zouma.

Zouma cost a reported £12 million (BBC) when he joined Chelsea back in 2014 but the Blues apparently told Everton he wouldn’t come that cheap during early negotiations.

Why would Chelsea want to offload Zouma given their lack of ability to bring anyone in and the fact they’ve lost Gary Cahill on a free transfer this summer?

Zouma has shown he can cut it in the Premier League and perhaps Lampard will prefer him to the older, more volatile David Luiz this term.

It’s a blow for Everton, however, who may need to move down their list of central defensive targets because they look light back there right now, and Yerry Mina’s injury record cannot be trusted.

They have been able to convince Andre Gomes to come back – but Barcelona wanted him out – whereas it seems Lampard is keen to keep as much quality as he can at Stamford Bridge beyond this tricky summer.