Chelsea’s plan for Ugochukwu revealed – and what it means for Caicedo and Lavia

Robin Bairner

29 Jul 2023 22:13 BST
5 min read

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, according to multiple sources.

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The 19-year-old already has 60 first-team appearances under his belt for the Ligue 1 club and has featured at U19 level on an international basis for the France national team.

The Blues are ready to spend €30 million on the defensive midfielder – but what should be expected of him this season?

PROFILE: Who is Lesley Ugochukwu?

RMC reports that Chelsea’s partner Ligue 1 club Strasbourg will receive Ugochukwu on loan once he completes a transfer that is estimated at €30 million. His medical at Stamford Bridge is expected to take place on Sunday.

Racing have recently been bought by BlueCo, and it is thought that the signing of Ugochukwu will be the first to link the clubs.

While Chelsea are also seeking a transfer for Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, it is believed that he will not move to Stamford Bridge if he is to be loaned back to Ligue 1, believing that he has already conquered that level.

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Where does this leave Caicedo and Lavia?

Ugochukwu is a similar style of player to both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who Chelsea are trying to sign from Brighton and Southampton respectively.

Any deal is unlikely to tread on the toes of Caicedo, who will clearly go straight into the first-team squad, so that throws up some uncertainty over Lavia.

Liverpool are thought to be ahead in the race for the Southampton player, so Chelsea’s escalation in Ugochukwu may well mean that they have given up in that particular chase. Certainly, they will not sign all three players this summer, so the Blues’ interest in one of their existing targets will surely wane if a deal for Ugochukwu is completed.