Lesley Ugochukwu has played 60 times for Rennes (Photo: Getty)
Chelsea are very close to signing Lesley Ugochukwu after agreeing personal terms with the teenage star, with his medical to take place in the next 24 hours.
The Blues still need to finalise the transfer fee for Ugochukwu with Rennes but the defensive midfielder is expected to cost an initial £23.5million, which could rise to £25.7m after add-ons.
But the deal is fully expected to go through with the 19-year-old left out of Rennes’ squad to face West Ham in a pre-season friendly on Saturday as talks are finalised.
The Evening Standard report that personal terms have already been agreed between player and club, and that Chelsea have already booked in his medical for the next 24 hours.
Despite his young age, Ugochukwu has already made 60 senior appearances for boyhood club Rennes, helping them finish fourth in Ligue 1 last season.
The arrival of the French youth international will no doubt please Mauricio Pochettino who was looking to bring in at least one more midfielder having lost so many of them during the summer.
So far this transfer window, the Blues have sold Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz.
Moises Caicedo has been a long time target for Chelsea (Photo: Getty)
Conor Gallagher has also been linked with leaving, though Chelsea rejected a £40m bid from West Ham with Pochettino later claiming the England star was a part of his plans.
However, it is not clear whether Ugochukwu will actually be a part of the first-team this coming season, with reports suggesting he could be loaned to Strasbourg who were recently taken over by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.
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Chelsea are still pursuing a deal for Moises Caicedo but Brighton have rejected their £80m bid as they want over £100m for their star player.
Caicedo is keen to move to Stamford Bridge but if a move doesn’t materialise it could force Ugochukwu into Pochettino’s plans a lot sooner.
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Personal terms have been agreed with the defensive midfielder.
