Don't wait 30 years - sign up for our daily football email newsletter today! Sign up Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Zouma has returned to Stamford Bridge after spending last season on loan at Everton.

The Frenchman enjoyed an impressive season in the heart of defence at Goodison Park.

Zouma has been heavily linked with a return to Merseyside but reports had suggested he wanted to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea.

However, according to the Mirror the 24-year-old would prefer to return to Everton where he knows he will be first choice.

The report claims he is determined to earn a place in France’s squad for Euro 2020 next summer.

And he is not confident of playing often enough while competing with David Luiz, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger for a place.

Lampard looked to have ended Everton’s hopes of signing Zouma earlier this week.

"In terms of Kurt Zouma, he’s a very good defender for us,” he said.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY)

“Very good player, very good person and professional.

“I want him here, simple as that.

“We are competitive with the centre backs we have in the team and he had a very good season at Everton and I can understand why they want him.

"He's a Chelsea player and I want him."

(Image: GETTY)

And Everton boss Marco Silva responded by making it clear that he won’t wait forever for Zouma.

“Of course, one of the most important things for me, since we finished the season, is to keep our level,” he said.

“It is very, very good for us that we could do that with Andre [Gomes] and our most important players until now, because it was not just Andre and Kurt.

“The most important players in our squad are still here at our club, the 15 or 16 players who played the most are still here until this moment, other than Kurt. Let's see what we can do in this situation.”