Everton keen on permanent deal for Chelsea defender

Everton have reportedly given their indication to pursue a permanent move for Kurt Zouma from Chelsea at the end of the campaign.

The Frenchman joined the Toffees from the Blues on a season-long loan deal last summer and he has since been a regular for them with 26 appearances in the Premier League alone.

According to The Times, the Merseyside outfit have told the player that they are interested in securing a permanent transfer for his services despite the Blues' recent transfer ban.

Chelsea are currently restricted from making any signings after the two-window transfer embargo levied on them by FIFA, but the Toffees still remain optimistic of landing Zouma, given he has previously fallen out-of-favour with the Blues.

Zouma has more than four years remaining on his existing deal with the west London side, but the Toffees remain hopeful that a £30m fee would be sufficient to do business with the Blues for the centre-back.