Brighton have made a bid to sign Chelsea defender Tariq Lamptey.
The 19-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, had received the offer of a new deal to stay at Stamford Bridge.
But Lamptey who made his debut in the Premier League win away to Arsenal last month, was concerned by a clogged pathway into the first team with Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta ahead of him in the pecking order.
A number of clubs had been in touch regarding a pre-contract agreement, including Lille, but Graham Potter's Seagulls have now made a last-ditch attempt to sign the right back for a fee of about £6million.
Following his debut at the Emirates, Blues boss Frank Lampard addressed the issue of Lamptey's contract.
"We'll see what happens," he said.
"He's talking with the club and hopefully he feels a bit of love from today as we've parachuted him in."
The Blues travel to Leicester City on Saturday lunchtime, as they look to return to winning ways in the Premier League.
Third hosts fourth as Lampard's side make the trip to face Brendan Rodgers' Foxes, who lost out in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Aston Villa in midweek.
Leicester currently have an eight point advantage over Chelsea, with the Foxes 14 points ahead of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves.
