Everton are desperate to turn Kurt Zouma’s loan deal permanent at Goodison Park, but the French centre-back might not be available if Chelsea’s transfer ban is upheld – Gary Cahill and David Luiz are out of contract this summer and can’t be replaced, meaning Zouma will be needed in the Chelsea squad.
If the Blues are unable to sign the 24-year-old, they should turn their attentions to Leicester City’s Harry Maguire. The England international is a towering centre-back, composed in possession and difficult to wrestle off the ball. He’s arguably be an upgrade on Zouma.
Maguire has made 28 Premier League appearances for Leicester this season, making 132 clearances, averaging a tackle (29) or interception (35) every 36 minutes, winning 111 aerial duels (78%), blocking 16 shots and averaging 55 passes-per-game with 85% accuracy. Everton nearly signed him from Hull City in 2017.
He won’t come cheap, however. Maguire reportedly has an £80m asking price and a contract worth £4.7m-a-year/£90k-per-week. Everton would be breaking their transfer record to sign him, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t improve their backline…
One potential stumbling block is the face Leicester and Everton are neck-and-neck in the Premier League table, separated by just one place and one point. Next season, the Blues want to challenge for the top-six but whether Maguire can be lured away from the King Power Stadium remains to be seen.
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