Chelsea have a pre-contract agreement in place to sign RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku next summer for over £53million.
The 24-year-old - who has eight goals and one assist in 12 games this season - has already undertaken medical tests with the Blues, who are growing in confidence of completing a deal for the France international after a series of meetings between the two clubs.
Chelsea were keen to steal a march on rivals for Nkuku’s signature, and have moved quickly outside of the transfer window by agreeing to pay more than his £53m release clause, which becomes active in the summer 2023 transfer window, to ensure they win the race.
Nkunku is keen on making a move to west London and Graham Potter’s side now firmly lead the race for his signature ahead of the like of Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea will continue spending next summer and in the upcoming January transfer window, with a midfielder their number one priority.
Contract talks with N'Golo Kante and Jorginho are pivotal as the pair head into the final six months of their deal, and Ajax's Edson Alvarez, PSV's Ibrahim Sangare and Southampton's Romeo Lavia have been shortlisted as replacements.
Chelsea could also enter the market for a goalkeeper after contract talks with Edouard Mendy stalled and amid ongoing uncertainty around the future of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Co-owner Todd Boehly remains the driving force behind Chelsea's transfer activity but he is keen to hand over the responsibilities to a sporting director and technical director. Leipzig’s Christopher Vivell is among those in the frame for a role at Stamford Bridge.
Attempts, however, to secure RB Salzburg's Christoph Freund and PSG's Luis Campos have failed and there are growing doubts about whether former Liverpool executive Michael Edwards will join before the World Cup in November when Chelsea want the process to have ended.
