Chelsea are looking beat Manchester City to the signing of St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma, according to the Daily Mirror.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini has been linked with a bid to take the highly-rated centre-back to the Etihad Stadium when the transfer window opens next month.

But it is claimed that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will look to buy Zouma, 19, for £10m in an attempt to strengthen the Blues’ defence.

Zouma, who was linked with QPR last season, is currently serving a 10-match suspension for a horrific challenge which left Sochaux player Thomas Guerbert with a broken leg.

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