Chelsea transfer news: Lesley Ugochukwu is set to join the Blues this summer as another promising addition to the ranks.
The aim is to have a self-sustaining operation that will see the club avoid paying large fees for talents they could have spotted sooner. With that project underway, the conveyer belt of talent has to start with a large base and the signings made so far have underlined that ambition.
The latest name set to join the project is Lesley Ugochukwu, a young midfielder with plenty of promise that could be set to join the Blues. A deal is claimed to be agreed at £23million with Rennes, so with that said, here's a look at the profile of the latest addition to the squad.
Ugochukwu is a 19-year-old central midfielder at French side Rennes, where he came through the academy ranks and has made 60 appearances for the club. That includes 35 matches last season in the deeper central role, having also won caps for France at under 19s level.
At six foot and two inches tall, the youngster is a force to be reckoned with in the midfield as he is able to add a dominant edge to the side. On the ball, there's been plenty of promise on display too, with line breaking passes that are able to progress the ball up the field.
Where there may be questions is over his ability to score goals, though that in itself may not be a trait that's commonly required for a more defensive minded midfielder, but one to keep in mind. His development will now have to be thought over carefully, given the stage of his career where he has senior minutes under his belt.
A loan to Strasbourg could be an option, but so too could be a chance to impress with Chelsea in the senior team but with fewer opportunities. It remains to be seen which decision will be made for the £23million man, but there's a lot to be excited by in the future.
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