Newcastle United fans have urged Rafa Benitez to join the race for Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma after Sky Sports revealed last night that highly-rated Frenchman was set for talks with Stoke and West Brom ahead of a potential loan move.
After picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2016, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes the 22-year-old centre-back will benefit from going out on loan.
Rafa Benitez has been tipped to do business with his former club Chelsea this summer, having already been linked with loan moves for Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker and fans are now urging the Spaniard to make his move for Zouma.
The signing of Florian Lejeune suggests another centre-back would not be top of Rafa’s priority list, however the loan signing of Zouma, one of France’s top defensive prospects, would be a real coup for Newcastle – a player Newcastle tried to sign during his time at St. Etienne.
With Grant Hanley up for sale this summer and Chancel Mbemba’s future under Benitez in doubt, Newcastle could benefit from another centre-back this summer, but you’d have to think we’d only recruit another should Hanley and/or Mbemba depart.
Here’s some of reactions from NUFC fans on Twitter last night following the news that he was in talks with Stoke and West Brom:
Lejeune or not, if Kurt Zouma is asking for a loan, that is exactly the kind of deal #nufc should look at. Especially if Hanley is off.
— Harry De Cosemo (@harrydecosemo) July 5, 2017
If Stoke and West Brom can talk to Kurt Zouma then I'll be pissed if we haven't even attempted #NUFC
— Jack Southern (@JackSuvz) July 11, 2017
I'd be disappointed if we are beaten by the likes of Stoke and WBA for a player like Zouma. Top player. #nufc
— Jimmy Angel (@jimmyangel3) July 11, 2017
We were so close to getting Aubameyang and Zouma in 2013.
In 2017, we sit back and let WEST BROM loan Zouma.
Wtf? @NUFC
— CΛLVIN (@Calvo98_) July 11, 2017
Why aren't we not in for Zouma on loan? No brainier. #NUFC
— Paul McDermott (@paulmcdermottt) July 11, 2017