Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes for €27m (£23.1m).
The Blues are yet to decide whether the 19-year-old will go into Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad or go out on loan.
A temporary move to Strasbourg, the Ligue 1 side in which Chelsea own a majority stake, has been mooted.
Ugochukwu came through the academy at Rennes and has gone on to make 60 appearances for the club, including 35 in all competitions last season.
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino says he will need to add players this summer but wants those who are fully committed to his project at the club, even if they are not starting
The 19-year-old predominantly plays as a holding midfielder and has won six caps for France U19s.
Ugochukwu’s arrival would continue the overhaul of Chelsea’s midfield, with Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante all leaving the club this summer.
Brighton reject Chelsea’s £80m bid for Caicedo
Earlier this week, Brighton rejected a second, increased offer from Chelsea for midfielder Moises Caicedo worth £80m.
Last week, the Seagulls snubbed a £70m offer from Chelsea for a player they value in the region of £100m.
One source had told Sky Sports News that Brighton value Caicedo, who was signed from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle for £4.5m in 2021, in the same bracket as Arsenal’s record signing Declan Rice and will look to get in the region of £100m for him.
It is thought Chelsea were getting encouragement that the 21-year-old would join them if a deal can be agreed between the clubs, with personal terms not expected to be a problem.
