Chelsea to keep Kurt Zouma despite interest from Schalke 04?

Kurt Zouma of Chelsea in action during the Pre Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Fiorentina at Stamford Bridge on August 5, 2015
© Getty Images
Chelsea reportedly decide to keep Kurt Zouma at Stamford Bridge despite interest from Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

Chelsea have reportedly decided to reject a loan move from Schalke 04 for defender Kurt Zouma.

Over the weekend, reports emerged that the Bundesliga club wanted to sign the French international - who is currently recovering from a serious knee injury - on a temporary basis.

However, according to the Daily Mail, Blues boss Antonio Conte is keen to keep the 21-year-old at Stamford Bridge with the club currently struggling for numbers in defence.

Zouma is not expected to be back in contention for another four to six weeks but the West Londoners have, so far, failed to add a centre-back and left-back to their ranks.

They do, however, hope to complete the signing of Fiorentina's Marcos Alonso in the next 48 hours.

Nacer Chadli and Marcos Alonso in action during the Europa League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina on February 25, 2016
Read Next:
Chelsea 'closing in on Alonso signing'
>

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City86111981119
2Arsenal86111991019
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs8530134918
4Liverpool85211810817
5Chelsea8512159616
6Everton8431126615
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd8422138514
8Southampton8332107312
9Crystal Palace8323119211
10Watford83231313011
11Bournemouth83231212011
12West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom824298110
13Leicester CityLeicester8224814-68
14Burnley8215612-67
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham8215917-87
16Hull City8215820-127
17Middlesbrough8134711-46
18Stoke CityStoke8134716-96
19Swansea CitySwansea8116815-74
20Sunderland8026615-92