The first of what could be two Chelsea additions in central midfield is on the cusp of completion, with Liverpool and Manchester United beaten to a superb bargain.
The Blues have already waved goodbye to a whole host of engine room options this window. N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount have all departed. As such, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher have no established competition for places at present.
However, among Chelsea’s main priorities before the summer window slams shut on September 1 is signing at least one new central midfielder.
Moises Caicedo remains in their sights, though Liverpool have made contact with Brighton.
Ironically enough, Chelsea are fast emerging as a serious threat to Liverpool’s pursuit of Romeo Lavia. The Blues bid £48m for the Southampton teenager on Wednesday. Lavia is valued at the £50m mark.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, the first domino to fall will be Leeds Utd midfielder, Tyler Adams.
Romano tweeted the USA international, 24, has agreed personal terms with Chelsea. In turn, the Blues have activated the player’s relegation-related release clause.
The clause stipulated Adams could be signed for just £20m in the event Leeds suffered relegation to the Championship. Had Adams been sold on the open market, his true value would’ve been far higher.
Romano added Adams has already completed the first part of his medical before twice giving the deal his signature “here we go” confirmation.
The move is a significant coup for Chelsea given the undervalued £20m price tag. Adams was among Leeds’ top performers last year and could do little to prevent their relegation while sidelined for the final two months of the season with a hamstring injury.
The release clause had also alerted a number of other big hitters, with the Daily Mail reporting Liverpool and Man Utd were among those to show interest.
However, it’s Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea who’ll be the ones to benefit from Adams’ tigerish displays in the engine room next season and beyond.
