Manchester United Defender Target Hints at Summer Move

Saint-Etienne defender and Manchester United target Kurt Zouma has revealed he could leave Les Verts at the end of the season.

The 18-year-old has impressed in France, making 32 Ligue 1 appearances over the last two seasons and is understood to be a target for United and local rivals Manchester City. The centre-back recently signed a new contract that runs until 2017 and hopes to play in the Champions League with Saint-Etienne but insists he could be open to a move this summer.

"The Champions League, it's a mad dream. By extending my contract, I said to myself that I was going to stay another year. Having said that, you don't know what might happen this summer. Those are the unpredictable things in football, but it's enriching," Zouma said.

Saint-Etienne are currently fourth in the Ligue 1 table, with 49 points from 29 matches, just two points off Marseille, who currently occupy the last Champions League spot.

After making 24 appearances for Les Verts last term, in his first top-flight season, Zouma suffered a knee injury that hampered his progress. A few spells on the treatment table, combined with form and fitness issues, have limited him to just 13 appearances this season, allowing Loic Perrin and Moustapha Bayal-Sall to become Saint-Etienne's first-choice centre-backs.

"At the start, you're a little annoyed. When I was on the bench, I said to myself: 'But why am I not playing?' When I played with the reserve team, I sulked a bit. After the Lorient game [in December], the coach grabbed me and said: 'What happened to you?'" Zouma said.

"I said to myself: 'You complain when you don't play, and this is what happens when you do. You need to take a long hard look at yourself.' I needed to suffer. You can't say that I've never suffered, but people have always opened doors for me. I needed a tougher challenge. It did me good," the defender added.