Chelsea transfer news: Liverpool beaten to Romeo Lavia transfer as Michael Olise deal close

Catch all the latest Chelsea transfer headlines, including updates on Michael Olise, Romeo Lavia and Cesare Casadei

Here is your Chelsea transfer roundup on Wednesday, August 16.

Olise breakthrough

Chelsea are expected to complete the signing of Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, football.london understands. The Blues, as first reported by Fabrice Hawkins in France, have activated the 21-year-old's £35million release clause in his contract at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea have been in dialogue with Olise and his entourage over the past week and have verbally agreed on personal terms for the forward. Chelsea's co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields has played a big role in the potential signing of Olise, sources have told football.london.

Shields has also been prominent in negotiations to bring Romeo Lavia from Southampton to Chelsea in recent days. Olise, however, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury he suffered while on France Under-21 duty in June and he's not expected to be back in action until late September or even October.

Lavia deal

Chelsea's spending this summer is set to continue in the aftermath of Moises Caicedo's £115million move to Stamford Bridge, with the Blues having now agreed a deal worth £58million to bring Rome Lavia to west London subject to a medical, football.london understands.

Chelsea have come to an agreement of £53million with an additional £5million payable in add-ons to land the 19-year-old who joined the Saints from Manchester a little over 12 months ago. The Blues' interest has been longstanding with the club evening making a late bid to sign the youngster from Southampton towards the transfer window a year ago.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have once again competed with Liverpool for the signature of a midfield star, with the Reds also having had a bid accepted. Chelsea's consistency and the influence of Joe Shields, who worked at both Man City and Southampton, appears to have paid dividends after Liverpool gave the impression that they turned their attention to Caicedo late last week.

Casadei embarks on new challenge

Leicester City have confirmed the signing of Cesare Casadei on loan from Chelsea for the 2023/24 season. The Italian midfield spent pre-season with the Blues' first team in the United States training under Mauricio Pochettino.

The 20-year-old was not handed a first team squad number however, and was not in the squad for Chelsea's opening match of the season against Liverpool with a loan being planned for the youngsters. Having joined the west London side in the 2022 summer transfer window, Casadei was first integrated into Chelsea's development side to assistant his adjustment to British football before being joining Reading on loan for the latter half of the season.

Casadei used that as a launchpad to win both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot as he captained Italy to the final of the under-20 World Cup. His impressive run of games saw him quickly join Chelsea's pre-season training.