Declan Rice to Chelsea is surely the ideal scenario for Everton’s Kurt Zouma hopes

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Everton may be watching what happens with Declan Rice particularly closely in the coming months.

The England international is being linked with a move to Chelsea (Independent), who supposedly see him as a means of bolstering their defence ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The Blues have left a lot to be desired at the back this season, with Antonio Rudiger coming in for particularly heavy criticism from fans lately.

Rice going back to the club he left in 2014 is something that could alert Everton, who have frequently been linked with a move for Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma (Le10 Sport reported on the interest as recently as July 2).

The Frenchman spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Goodison Park where he impressed, but the club were ultimately unable to sign him permanently.

TBR’s View – Any Rice transfer surely opens the door

Everton will fancy their chances of finally landing Zouma as one of their own if Chelsea manage to strike a deal with West Ham for Rice.

The former Saint-Etienne man – who cost Chelsea £12 million back in 2014 (BBC Sport) – has not been a constant for Lampard this term with competition coming from Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori, which may suggest he’d be willing to let him go for the right price.

Last summer, Chelsea were operating with a transfer ban in place.

Perhaps with no restrictions, and the addition of Rice thanks to a potential West Ham relegation, Everton could strike it lucky this time.