Antonio Conte willing to loan out Chelsea defender

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is willing to part ways with defender Kurt Zouma on a temporary basis following his limited playing time during the current season.

The France international suffered a season-ending injury against Manchester United in February last year, and this hindered his chances of earning a regular run on Antonio Conte's arrival at Stamford Bridge.

Since the turn of the year, Zouma has been rarely used in the starting lineup, and only a short-term injury to Gary Cahill offered him a route back to the first XI.

According to The Mirror, Conte will allow the centre-back to leave west London on a season-long loan next term with a view to fighting for his position with Les Bleus for next year's World Cup.

League rivals Manchester United, managed by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, are said to be keen on the player, but Chelsea are unlikely to entertain a deal with a direct league rival. 

Zouma may have played his last game in the Chelsea shirt this season with Conte likely to stick with his preferred trio of Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta for the final weeks of the campaign.