Chelsea have agreed terms with Ligue 1 side Stade de Rennes over the signing of teenage midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, claims The Athletic. The Blues are now looking into the final details of the deal before roping him in as their fourth summer signing.
Chelsea Agree Terms for Lesley Ugochukwu Transfer
How Much Are Chelsea Paying For Ugochukwu?
The Blues have significantly improved their scouting in France after their owners bought up French side Strasbourg and it appears that they were impressed enough by the 19-year-old midfielder’s work to make a move for him.
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The Athletic’s Adam Leventhal claims that Chelsea are going to pay a fee of around £23.5 million for Ugochukwu’s signing. They have even set up a medical for him, which the youngster will undergo in the next 24 hours before being able to complete a move to Stamford Bridge.
He has agreed personal terms with the Premier League heavyweights over a long-term contract, it is stated. However, Leventhal adds that there is still uncertainty over whether the midfielder will go straight to the first team or play with the reserves. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano claims that Chelsea will make a decision on potentially loaning him to Strasbourg after securing the deal and that Rennes have excluded him from their upcoming friendly game against West Ham United because he’s on the verge of joining the English side.
Who is Lesley Ugochukwu?
The France U-19 international had his breakthrough season in the previous campaign for the Ligue 1 side, making 35 appearances for them in all competitions. Ugochukwu normally plays in the holding midfield role, but can also play as a centre-midfielder if needed.
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The 6’2′ ft youngster is renowned for his athletic presence and has been compared to the likes of Patrick Vieira and Paul Pogba. He has been hailed as ‘amazing’ for his impressive performances in 2023 and it was his good work that led Chelsea to make a move for him. It appears that the Blues are now on the verge of securing their latest acquisition after signing the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Angelo Gabriel in the summer window.
