Chelsea are preparing for their pre-season with centre-back Kurt Zouma in their plans, handing both Everton and Arsenal a huge blow in their pursuits of the Frenchman.
Zouma has enjoyed a strong loan spell with the Toffees, who were tipped to make an attempt to sign the player permanently this summer.
However, according to the Liverpool Echo, their attempts will be in vain as Chelsea are 'expecting' to welcome him back to the first-team fold for pre- at Stamford Bridge.
While a looming transfer ban makes recalling Zouma a shrewd move on paper for the Blues, manager Maurizio Sarri's lack of player rotation has forced fellow centre backs Andreas Christensen and Gary Cahill to accept reserve roles at the club, with David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger the preferred duo.