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Kurt Zouma was the last man through the window before it slammed shut in the summer.

Everton now hope he will be one of the first to confirm he has no intention of leaving when it opens again because the towering defender has become a priority target.

A loan move from Chelsea came so late on deadline day that the transfer only received Premier League ratification 24 hours later yet it very quickly became apparent how important Zouma was going to be.

Not that he didn't arrive speaking with the sobering intent of returning to Stamford Bridge once his Goodison loan was up.

He was very clear on that.

Read our exclusive on Lucas Digne's first season at Everton HERE

But those who have spoken to the 24-year-old recently say he now remains undecided but, crucially, that he is also very happy with life at Everton and so the hope is that a season has seen a shift in his focus.

It is very simple at one end of this proposed deal – Everton want Zouma – but at the other, it is complicated with Chelsea waiting to hear the outcome of an appeal with FIFA over a transfer ban.

In the middle is Zouma. Happy, playing very, very well and wanted but still open-minded about his future, it seems.

Marco Silva hopes he can be convinced to stay with the Everton manager making no secret, for some time now, of his desire to make the centre-back's loan move a permanent switch.

His team-mates, clearly, feel the same as well with Zouma said to be a very popular member of the Everton squad.

"Of course, we want to keep every good player that we've got,” Gylfi Sigurdsson told the ECHO.

"He's been fantastic for us since he came in, so hopefully he'll want to stay.

"I'm sure the club will put a bit of pressure on him to stay, and I'm sure the boys will as well!"

Zouma has made 26 starts in the Premier League this season, scoring twice and has formed an impressive partnership, in particular, with Michael Keane.

A season with the Blues is his third out on loan since signing for Chelsea permanently in 2014 after he was told by Mauricio Sarri that he was surplus to requirements this term.

Sarri's future looks uncertain but Everton hope Zouma's place in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge remains unchanged this summer whatever happens.

The lifting of their transfer ban helps significantly in this.

And true to his character even Phil Jagielka, who may be edged out of the door by the permanent signing of Zouma, has been full of praise for the France international.

“He's been brilliant,” the captain said.

“He's come and wanted to play more games. He had a bad injury a few years ago and so for his own career and development that's what he wants.

“He's been brilliant, and the situation with Chelsea will probably play some part with where he is next season but we'll have to wait and go from there.”

“He's a good lad,” he added.

“There is a strong French contingent but he speaks great English and joins in with everything so if you want a character reference then I can tell you he's a good lad.”

Silva, who wanted to sign him permanently in August but Chelsea were not willing to play ball, has been "really pleased” with Zouma but recently gave an interview to the ECHO in which he hoped to speak to the defender's competitive side.

“But to be honest with you, I see many, many conditions in which he can improve, and he knows because I speak to him everyday what I am demanding of him,” he said.

The inference was that he can improve as a player, at Everton and under Silva.

"Where I will be is where I know I have a chance to play,” the defender said.

“If it is here or somewhere else - I don't know where - I just want to enjoy myself and to keep playing.”

Everton hope it is with them.