OPINION
There is no doubting that Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma has helped plugged the defensive gaps at Everton this season but there should still be doubts about his performances.
The French international has 17 Premier League appearances to his name for the Toffees and is a mainstay in the starting XI but whether he should be there or not is another matter entirely.
He certainly does not work efficiently alongside Michael Keane at the heart of the defence and there have been a number of defensive errors which have cost Everton – Yerry Mina waiting patiently in the wings for his chance to usurp either of the pair.
It seems as though Marco Silva is ready to bolster his options at the back, the Mirror claiming that the Merseyside club are on the trail of wantaway West Ham man Reece Oxford as the east London outfit look to seal a fee in excess of £3million for his sale – a fee which would be a real bargain for whoever signed him up.
With Everton knowing Zouma is not going to remain at Goodison past the summer window he needs long term options in his side and at just 20-years-old, Oxford has plenty of potential to grow into exactly what Silva needs.
Zouma staying at the club would just be a hurdle for the development of their own talent and his bang average performances must see them tear up his loan deal with Chelsea, sending him back to Stamford Bridge and giving space in the squad for Oxford – not to mention a space in the side for another English loan signing.
Oxford has been wasted at the Hammers and at £3million it is a deal Everton cannot afford to miss out on.