Chelsea transfer target Kurt Zouma has been omitted from Saint-Etienne s squad for their Ligue 1 trip to Bordeaux on Sunday.
The France Under-21 international s future has been the subject of much speculation throughout the January transfer window, and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hinted earlier this week that contact had been made over a move for the defender.
Mourinho s comments came after Zouma told L Equipe earlier this month that he would welcome a switch to Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old has now been left out of Christophe Galtier s 18-man squad for the game at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas, further fuelling talk that a move could be imminent.
Zouma returned from a 10-match ban as a late substitute in his side s 2-0 win over Lille last week, and it remains to be seen whether that will be his final game for the club.
The centre-back, a product of Saint-Etienne s youth system, has made 61 appearances for the club since making his debut in August 2011.
