Sunday, August 29

King Kurt

David Moyes' policy of patience in the transfer market appears to have paid off with the £29.8 million signing of Kurt Zouma — presumably after organising a Zouma meeting with his agent. It's a lot of money for a defender and there's a risk his reputed high wages could cause resentment among the lower-earners around him, though if he performs well on the pitch that will surely be forgotten.

Zouma is a good age at 26 and played 36 times for Chelsea last season, also being on the bench for the Champions League Final. Not all are convinced. My pal the Vicar's Son feels Zouma's always got a mistake in him and lacks pace. But perhaps we should trust in Moyes after he called Soucek, Bowen and Lingard right, and as a former defender himself Moyesy should know his centre-backs. It's also worth remembering that Zouma was talked about as a long-term successor to John Terry and Jose Mourinho rated him. 

Zouma has played 151 times in all competitions for Chelsea. He has won two titles and three League Cups and played in FA Cup Finals. He's a French international and has the useful loan experience of seasons at Stoke and Everton. His concentration might need to improve, but even on rumoured wages of £100k plus a week he is a quality addition to the squad, the sort of no-nonsense defender we need. With Dawson, Ogbonna, Diop and Zouma the options at centre back look good and we can rotate in Europe. Now we just need a striker and midfielder.

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