Chelsea are reportedly set to open talks to sign Leeds United star Tyler Adams in the ‘next few days’ as Mauricio Pochettino eyes midfield reinforcements.
Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante have all left the London club this summer and as a result, Pochettino has been left with just Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez as his only senior centre-mid options.
Adams showed last season that he has the quality to play in the Premier League and he is desperate to leave Leeds this summer after they were relegated to the Championship.
The United States international signed for the Whites for approximately £20m in July 2022. He has since made 26 appearances across all competitions.
Operating generally from defensive midfield, his best attributes are at breaking up opposition attacks, as well as his passing. With that in mind, he could be an ideal replacement for Kante.
Adams would be a relatively cheap addition for Chelsea, too. As previously reported by Football365, he is available for just £20m this summer due to a relegation clause in his contract.
Now, according to reputed transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are set to open talks with Leeds over signing the 24-year-old in the very near future.
On Twitter, he wrote: “After approaching player’s camp last week, Chelsea will open talks over Tyler Adams deal in the next days —they are informed on his £20m relegation clause.
“It remains separated deal from Moises Caicedo.”
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue between Chelsea and Adams, therefore, it seems this deal has a real chance of being completed before the start of the Premier League campaign.
Moises Caicedo remains Chelsea’s top midfield target, though, but a deal for him is proving to be much more difficult than the one for Adams..
The Blues have already submitted an offer worth £80m for the Ecuadorian but it was quickly rejected by Brighton. The Seagulls are reportedly holding out for an offer in the region of £100m.
Whether or not Chelsea match that fee remains to be seen. What seems certain, though, is that they are pushing to sign Adams before the start of the season.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are still in the race for the midfielder, though, so the Blues will have to move quickly to get a deal done.
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