Zouma can replace Terry, says Sinclair
Kurt Zouma has the ability and potential to replace John Terry when the Chelsea captain retires, according to former Blues defender Frank Sinclair.
Zouma, 20, starred in the 3-0 third-round FA Cup win over Watford last Sunday, drawing praise from manager Jose Mourinho for his display.
He has also impressed in the Capital One Cup and the home Premier League victory over Tottenham before Christmas – two of a total of 10 appearances he has made in a Blues shirt.
And Sinclair, who progressed through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge and played 219 games for the club from 1990 to 1998, is convinced that the imposing Frenchman is developing nicely.
“I have seen quite a bit of him and he looks a top player with a real bright future,” Sinclair told West London Sport. “He could well be the answer when John Terry calls it a day.
“This guy could partner Gary Cahill for many years to come. You could seem him playing alongside and being a natural partner for Gary for five or six years.”
Zouma, who joined for £12.5m from St Etienne in January 2014, scored on his Chelsea debut in the Capital One Cup tie against Bolton and also netted with a fine header against the Hornets.
Sinclair added: “He has everything and is such a presence in both boxes.
“And his leap is unbelievable. Big men don’t tend tend to jump that well but he has an incredible leap.
“He is still very raw and has a lot to learn but he is coming on with his positional play and using the ball, and he is among some great defenders. If he is not picking up advice from them, then he is daft.”
Sinclair, who earlier this week resigned as manager of Conference North side Colwyn Bay, says Terry, 34, and Cahill, 29, are perfect role models.
“Zouma has got information to improve himself as a player in front of him and he seems to be using it,” Sinclair said. “It’s the sign of a good player.
“That is the difference between a top Premier League player and a decent player in the Football League. It’s about being capable of taking on information quickly, digesting it and then performing it.
“There are plenty of players with ability at a lower level but they sometimes have not got it in their make-up to take all the information on board. It’s how you respond to being thrown in at the deep end.
“He will be a fantastic player. We have seen Cahill come on massively since he has been at Chelsea.”
Meanwhile, Sinclair is looking to get back involved in the game quickly after leaving Colwyn Bay.
The 43-year-old spent nearly two seasons with the Welsh side, steering them to highly unlikely survival in his first few months in charge and leading them to their highest ever placing in the league pyramid last term.
But injuries and a restricted budget have affected them this season and Sinclair said it was the right time to leave so that “someone else could come in and try to bring in their own players and ideas”.
And much as he would like to work for Chelsea, having been associated with the club since the age of 11, his family are settled in the North West and he said it was unlikely he could take on something back in west London.
“I would consider every opportunity,” he added.
“I am a football man and want to get back involved quickly in some way. I would have to think about a job with Chelsea but it would probably be unrealistic because of family reasons.”
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