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Chelsea close in on transfer deal: Antonio Conte makes surprise decision
CHELSEA will allow Kurt Zouma to leave on loan next season.
Lukaku chats with Chelsea's director of football
Zouma was a regular for Chelsea last season but suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in February 2016.
And the French defender did not return to the Chelsea first team until January this year.
Blues boss Antonio Conte has been fortunate to play a settled back three with David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill missing just four games between them.
Zouma has made seven appearances with just two from the start.
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma
The Telegraph say Chelsea are favourites to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.
And with Andreas Christensen set to return from a two-year loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, Conte will have a surplus of defenders.
So Zouma can leave in the summer in search of first-team football.
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