Everton will not be able to sign Kurt Zouma on a permanent deal because of Chelsea’s transfer embargo, according to the Daily Star.
The 6’2″ Frenchman [Transfermarkt] made a big impression during a loan spell at Goodison Park last season, making 36 appearances in all competitions, and it is understood that the Toffees are keen to bring him in on a full-time basis.
As it is, however, the transfer ban that Chelsea are facing, which will prevent them from buying players for the next two transfer windows, means there is a reluctance to let too many players leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
OPINION
This is a massive blow for Everton, who will no doubt have been banking on signing Zouma permanently. The Frenchman was one of Marco Silva’s standout performers last season after a series of impressive displays at the heart of defence, and ordinarily, you would expect a permanent deal to already be in the pipeline. Instead, due to circumstances entirely out of their control, Everton are set to miss out on their man. That is a real shame, not just from their point of view, but from Zouma’s as well. You would assume that he is likely to be sat on the bench for the majority of next season, whereas he would have been playing week in, week out for the Toffees. These things cannot be helped, and you can understand Chelsea’s logic, but certainly, this is a disappointing development.