Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Denis Zakaria from Juventus on a season-long loan – and the Blues are understood to have negotiated an option to buy the 25-year-old next summer.
With N'Golo Kante currently ruled out and both Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek having suffered injuries in the opening weeks of the campaign, a defensive-minded midfielder jumped to the top of Thomas Tuchel's wishlist in the final hours of the summer transfer window.
Chelsea hoped the solution would be Edson Alvarez of Ajax and the Blues submitted a £43million offer for the Mexican international yesterday, which was the final day of the Dutch window. But with no opportunity to bring in an adequate replacement and despite Alvarez pushing for a switch to Stamford Bridge, Ajax stood firm on their desire to keep the 24-year-old.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Denis Zakaria deal agreed, Aubameyang medical, Alvarez 'off'
That resulted in Chelsea turning their attention elsewhere on deadline day and the club settled on Zakaria. Talks were concluded swiftly with Juventus, and a loan move for the Switzerland international was confirmed early this evening. It's been reported in Italy that the Blues' option to sign Zakaria has been set at around £30million and that he is undertaking his medical in Turin.
Zakaria has previously been linked with Chelsea and only joined Juve in January from Borussia Monchengladbach for just £7.4m. He has struggled to stay fit, though, and has made only 15 competitive appearances for the Old Lady.
Meanwhile, Ethan Ampadu has completed a season-long loan move to Italian side Spezia. Billy Gilmour is set to depart too with Brighton and Hove Albion confident of securing a permanent deal for the Scotland international worth just £9million.
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