As Manchester United continue their attempts of adding youth to their defense, they turn their eyes to their next transfer target Kurt Zouma, a 19 year old central defender from Saint-Étienne.
Zouma isn’t the only centre back on Ferguson’s mind. Thinking about the day after Rio Ferdinand and even Nemanja Vidic, having Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones isn’t enough for him. Ezequiel Garay of Benfica is on the list, and now the very promising Zouma is also being scouted, hoping he’s suitable to be part of the next generation of Manchester United’s defense.
Zouma has missed quite a few games due to injury this season, which has hurt his status as a first team player, but at 19, playing every week might not be the best hing for both your development and your ego. Zouma has so far appeared for Les Verts 10 times this season and a total of 32 matches in Ligue 1 since joining the senior team last season.
More than his league form, he has shown quite an impressive ability during the French youth side’s matches, especially for the French U-17 side, playing at the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Manchester City have shown interest in the past, although rumors of them offering €12 million for the player seem to be nothing more than rumors.
It’s believed that if anyone, including Manchester United, was to make a move for the talented centre back, standing at 1.87 tall and might be the future of the French defense next to Raphaël Varane of Real Madrid, who has been playing for the U-21 side since 2011, it would cost them around £8 million to make the signing. What are they waiting for? United, and possibly other clubs, want to see Zouma recapture his place in the starting lineup, and show a consistent stretch of dominating on defense, proving he’s more than just potential.