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.
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.
Sky Sports News understands there are no active talks between the clubs
currently.
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