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Cape Town - Kurt Zouma has expressed his wish to stay at Chelsea this season and compete for a first-team place amid talk of a permanent move to Everton.
Zouma impressed while on loan at Everton last season and the Toffees are keen to take him back on a permanent basis ahead of the new campaign.
There has been talk of Zouma pushing for a return so he can play regular first-team football next season, with some reports claiming that a transfer request has been handed in.
Zouma has now dismissed such talk and says he was encouraged to hear the words of boss Frank Lampard, who sees the player in his plans moving forward.
"I’m happy with what the manager said about me," said Zouma.
"That means he is seeing the work I’m doing and I’m very pleased with that.
"We had a chat at the beginning of pre-season, and he was very good with me. We talk a lot.
"It is true that I enjoyed my time at Everton, but I am a Chelsea player and we’ll see what will happen in the end.
"I think it will be here at Chelsea, but the most important thing is to work and to prepare for the season.
"I want to do really well in pre-season to get my chance and be here."
