Report: Chelsea to loan out Zouma if Van Dijk pursuit succeeds

Kurt Zouma could be out of a job next season if Chelsea's pursuit of Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is successful this summer.

But that won't necessarily spell the end to his Chelsea career, as the Blues plan to loan Zouma out to another club to make room for the Dutch defender, Matt Law of The Telegraph reports.

Chelsea is believed eager to upgrade its backline this summer with the pursuit of Van Dijk, for whom Southampton will reportedly demand a £50-million fee.

The Blues, however, are expected to face plenty of competition for the centre-back after various reports linked Van Dijk with moves to Arsenal and Liverpool.

Related - Report: Arsenal to hijack Chelsea's Van Dijk bid

If the Premier League leader manages to secure Van Dijk's signature, the club will subsequently look to ship Zouma out on loan, with the goal of giving the French defender a chance to play regularly. He missed nearly a year of action due to a cruciate knee ligament injury that he suffered in February 2016.

Zouma, 22, has made 13 appearances this season since his season debut during an FA Cup win in January.

Despite John Terry's planned departure, defensive spots will be limited next season as Chelsea ensures a place for Nathan Ake and Andreas Christensen, Law reports. Christensen has spent the last two seasons out on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach. The two defensive prospects are expected to be retained ahead of Chelsea's return to the Champions League next season because they could certifiably be considered homegrown players under UEFA's "association trained" rule.