Chelsea FINALLY close in on midfielder transfer

Suraj Radia

10 Aug 2023 15:56 BST
3 min read

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Chelsea have made progress in their pursuit of a midfielder after meeting the £20 million relegation release clause in the contract of Leeds’ Tyler Adams.

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Adams only joined Leeds last summer for £20m from RB Leipzig and was a rare bright spark in a disappointing season which saw the The Whites relegated.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been desperate to strengthen in the middle of the park but have so far seen bids rebuffed for Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, with the latter now a target for Liverpool.

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Chelsea have seen the likes of N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic leave this summer, leaving the Blues’ light in midfield ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool this weekend.

However, Pochettino could have Adams available to him after the 24-year-old was confirmed to be having a medical at Chelsea’s training ground, with the London side having activated the release clause and agreed personal terms over a transfer.

Chelsea will still look to complete a big money move for Caicedo or Lavia but optimism is fading on either deal progressing before the weekend, despite earlier reports to the contrary.

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Chelsea have brought in six players so far this summer and spending nearly £200m, however their business has largely been funded by their sales, which has left the Blues in transfer profit.

Consequently, Chelsea are hopeful of sealing a deal for Caicedo before the end of the month despite having yet to meet Brighton’s £100m asking price and reports have now suggested they have been outbid by Liverpool, with Bayern Munich also circling.

Lavia, meanwhile, has been a top target for Liverpool all summer but Jurgen Klopp’s side have so far failed to match Southampton’s £50m asking price, prompting Chelsea to make a £48m offer for the teenager, although this has since been rejected.

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Chelsea could also bring in another forward, although any major business will likely come down to whether Romelu Lukaku can be sold after seeing his protracted transfer to Juventus fall through.