Everton’s hopes of signing Kurt Zouma may have been dashed by Chelsea, with Andreas Christensen revealing that the Blues are likely to hold onto their players this summer due to their transfer ban. Chelsea were handed a two-window transfer ban for breaking rules on the signings of minors.
Their appeal will be heard in April, but the ban has been upheld as things stand. If the Londoners are unable to sign players over the next 12 months, it’s unlikely they will sell so readily. Chelsea have David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger, Christensen, Gary Cahill and Ethan Ampadu, but Cahill is out of contract and Ampadu is only 18 so Zouma may be needed as back-up.
It’s bad news for Everton, as the Merseysiders were expected to turn Zouma’s loan deal permanent when the season came to a close. The 24-year-old has impressed at Goodison Park and is a regular under Marco Silva, but he may now be forced to return to Stamford Bridge for 2019/20.
Christensen explained why on Monday, telling Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet (h/t Sky Sports): “The messages we’ve got are that Chelsea can’t appeal the case and therefore want to keep all the players. The situation I have ended up in has been very difficult to accept.”
Zouma has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Everton, scoring and creating three goals. In the Premier League, he’s made 96 clearances, won 84 aerial duels (68%) and averages a tackle (25) or interception (34) every 33 minutes.
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