Everton attempting to keep Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma at Goodison Park permanently

Everton are trying to secure a permanent deal to keep Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma at Goodison Park, according to Goal.

Zouma hasn’t made an appearance for Chelsea in two years, spending the last two seasons on loan at (then-Premier League) Stoke City and Everton.

However, the centre-back impressed for the Toffees last season, starting 29 league games as they finished in eighth place in the Premier League for the second consecutive year.

Gary Cahill has been released by Chelsea and is now a free agent.

The France international helped the Merseyside club boast the best defensive record outside the top six, having only conceded 46 league goals all season.

Chelsea may not be open to the idea of selling the 24-year-old though, as they are unable to sign any players under their transfer ban and recent release of Gary Cahill leaves a spot open in the squad for another centre-back.

If they do decide to let the Saint Etienne academy product walk out the door, they are expected to set an asking price upwards of £30million.

Zouma has earned five caps for his national side since making his debut in 2015, and he made his first start for Les Bleus in June in a 4-0 victory over Andorra.