Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has been linked with a loan move for the past two months and a report on Evening Standard claims the defender has been given permission by Chelsea to talk to clubs over a season-long loan deal following the signing of Antonio Rudiger.

Zouma has not demanded to leave Chelsea on loan but the report claims Chelsea believe Zouma will benefit from playing more regularly elsewhere next season.

Zouma missed the first-half of last season due to an injury he sustained in February last year. Zouma made just 11 appearances last season after returning from injury in January.

Gary Cahill, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Rudiger are reportedly ahead of Zouma in the pecking order and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants to give Chelsea young defender Andreas Christensen first team football next season.

Zouma has two years left on his contract and he would be offered a new contract before he leaves Chelsea on loan this summer.

About 20 clubs are reportedly interested in Zouma including West Brom, Stoke City, Inter Milan, Sevilla, Valencia, Nice, Lyon and Marseille.