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Kurt Zouma expects to stay with Chelsea this summer - but has told Frank Lampard he wants first-team football.

Zouma impressed on loan at Everton last season and worked his way into the France squad.

Everton are keen on completing a permanent deal for Zouma but Lampard has made it clear he sees the defender as part of his plans.

Zouma knows he has competition for places but has made it clear he is not prepared to sit on the bench.

He said: “That is very important for me. It was one of my targets to get into the France team. I had been there before and wanted to come back.

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“I managed to do that. Now the target is to play at the Euros - but to be there you have to be playing at your club. So I am working very hard.”

Zouma has spent the last two seasons out on loan, first at Stoke and then last term at Everton, as he fought his way back to fitness after rupturing knee ligaments in 2016 and being out for six months.

He was first called up by his country in 2015 but only made his first start in June against Andorra. He now has five caps and he wants to make up for lost time.

Lampard, hit by a transfer ban that means he cannot sign players this season, has insisted he wants Zouma to stay, saying: “I want him here, simple as that. I want him to be happy. If he competes and plays well this season, he plays.”

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Zouma has had talks with Lampard about his future and he said: “I’m happy with what the manager said about me. That means he is seeing the work I’m doing and I’m very pleased with that.

“We had a chat, and he was very good with me. He is a very good manager.

“I enjoyed my time at Everton but I’m a Chelsea player and we’ll see what will happens in the future. I think it will be here at Chelsea.

“This is a chance for me. I went out on loan last season but I’m a Chelsea player and I want to do well to get my chance and be here.”

Zouma, who has four years left on his Blues contract, feels he is a better player having spent the year at Goodison Park, where he played 36 games, scoring two goals.

He said: “It was a very good season for me. It was very good for my development. After my injury I was ready to play week-in week-out.

(Image: Getty Images)

“Going there I did that and improved myself technically and tactically in every aspect with the manager there. I am a better player. Everything has improved in my game. I still have a lot to learn and to work on but I feel I have done a lot.”

As for the competition for places, he added: “There is a lot of quality here. It depends on the manager. He can only play with two centre backs. He has to make the choice but he is lucky because he has good players. It will be hard for him to make that choice but that is what we’re here for.”

Chelsea face Barcelona in Saitama on Tuesday in the last game of their Japanese tour before heading back to London. Lampard will have goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and striker tammy Abraham available again after illness.

Midfielder Ethan Ampadu, 18, has joined Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on a season-long loan deal.