Chelsea are on the verge of signing Santos forward Deivid Washington for £17million.
The Brazilian talent, 18, is set to become the club’s seventh major signing of the summer after his breakout season in South America.
Washington will join Angelo Gabriel in swapping Santos for Stamford Bridge but neither will spend the upcoming campaign with the Blues.
Chelsea plan on loaning the teenage duo to Strasbourg, the French club recently purchased by BlueCo to become a sister club to the Premier League side.
And the Blues want to send at least one other player to the Ligue 1 side for experience in 2023-24, most likely Lesely Ugochukwu.
The 19-year-old joined from Rennes on a seven-year contract earlier this month for £23m and has been given the No16 shirt for the new season despite potentially leaving on loan.
Santos left Washington out of their 1-1 draw with Athletico Paranense on the weekend and spoke publicly about his imminent exit, amid late interest from Monaco.
Mauricio Pochettino could return to the transfer market to bolster his attacking options amid Christopher Nkunku undergoing surgery on a knee injury, although Washington will not be the player to fill the void left by the Frenchman.
Meanwhile, Serie A club Genoa have joined Leicester in the race to sign Cesare Casadei on loan although the Foxes are still favourites for the Italian midfielder.
