Mark Hughes believes he has struck gold with Kurt Zouma – after insisting he is worth £40million.
Zouma, 22, cost Stoke a £7million loan fee when he joined from Chelsea for the season, but his impact has been so huge that Potters boss Hughes wants the the France defender back next term.
The former St Etienne youngster returns for Stoke for Saturday's visit of Southampton after being ineligible for last week's 4-0 defeat.
Hughes, 53, reckons £7million 'rent' is a snip as Zouma's cost in the open market would be beyond Stoke.
“Kurt Zouma is a £30-40m centre-half. We can’t afford that, but in the loan market we can get him here so that’s a good thing,” said the Welshman.
“We have to do that because we’re not going to go into the market for a £60million player.”
Zouma won his only two full caps in 2015 but was an unused substitute for the World Cup qualifier against Holland earlier this month and is keen to make Didier Deschamps's squad for Russia 2018.
The powerful centre back signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge on the eve of his move to Stoke. Hughes believes regular football was uppermost in his mind to showcase himself for next summer's tournament.
“It coincides with the World Cup, so wanting to play week-in, week-out would have been in his thinking,” said the Stoke chief. “At one point I think he felt he needed to leave Chelsea because he wanted to play regularly but the contract he was offered tied him to them.”
Hughes is already looking to keep him for another year.
“We'd be more than happy to pursue it if the potential to do it was there - we'd certainly ask,” added the Welshman. "He's been that impressive.”
The bet 365 chief believes Zouma is a future regular with Chelsea.
“They sent Andreas Christiansen to Germany and now he's playing in Chelsea's team,” he added. “I suspect that's what will happen with Kurt.”
Saido Berahino has been knocking on Hughes' door after not starting since the opening day.
“He's knocked on my door because he wants to understand what he needs to do to get in the team. I like that,” said the Potters chief.
“Saido understands the need to know what those areas are to improve in, and when he knocks the door, he gets told.”