Chelsea defender wanted by Everton and Leicester City

Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has emerged as a transfer target for Premier League duo Everton and Leicester City, according to reports in England. 

Chelsea are looking to offload at least one centre-back before the end of the transfer window, with Antonio Rudiger and Fikayo Tomori linked with loan moves elsewhere. 

However, reports claim that the Blues could cash in on Zouma if their £36 million asking price for the Frenchman is met, and both Everton and Leicester are circling the former Saint-Étienne man. 

Zouma still has three years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge but is seen as one of the players whose sale could offset the Blues' £220 million outlay on players this summer. 

The French international started alongside Andreas Christensen in Chelsea's first two games of the season but was replaced by newcomer Thiago Silva for the Blues' 3-3 draw against West Bromwich Albion. 

The 25-year-old did not even make the matchday squad for the trip to the Hawthorns, leading to speculation regarding his future. 

Zouma spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Everton before forcing his way into Frank Lampard's plans and making 43 appearances in all competitions last term. 

Tottenham were another club to be linked with a move for Zouma back in June, a move which would have seen the defender reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho.

The Toffees are now pushing hard to get him back, with Carlo Ancelotti desperate to add to his depleted backline. 

Everton have also shown interest in taking Tomori on loan due to their injury troubles with Ancelotti has only two fit senior centre-backs at present. 

Antonio Rudiger's future at Chelsea is also in doubt after the German made it clear that he wanted first-team football ahead of the European Championships next summer. 

The 27-year-old was on the bench for the Blues' Premier League opener against Brighton but has not made Lampard's squad since. 

Spurs are ready to pounce, according to reports, but it remains to be seen whether Chelsea would willingly allow Rudiger to join a direct top-six rival.

Featured image credits - Evening Standard