EPL: Chelsea reaches agreement to sign Lesley Ugochukwu

The Blues have already agreed personal terms and are preparing to conduct a medical in the next 24 hours.

It’s unclear as to whether Ugochukwu is a signing for Mauricio Pochettino’s first team or if he will go on loan to the newly bought partner club Strasbourg next season.

Ugochukwu featured 26 times in the French top-flight last season and is the latest talent off the Rennes conveyor belt. The French club boasts a fine record of developing young gems and now they are set for another sizeable payday.

Primarily a defensive midfielder, Ugochukwu who stands at 6ft 3in tall has also earned nine caps for France’s Under-19s, scoring two goals in the process.

He will become the fifth new face through the door in west London following the arrivals of Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo and Diego Moreira.

Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount have all departed the club this summer for Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, respectively, while the likes of N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy have moved to the Saudi Pro League.

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.

It’s been gathered that Brighton values 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.