are in advanced talks to sign U21 international forward Elye Wahi from Ligue 1 club Montpellier, according to reports.
Wahi impressed in the French top-flight last season with 19 goals and six assists across 33 games – and also picked up the Ligue 1 Goal of the Year award.
The Blues are in need of a new striker ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and indicate that an agreement is ‘getting closer’ over a deal for Wahi.
Chelsea are keen to wrap up the transfer as soon as possible to fend off rival interest in the player and they plan to loan him out to continue his development.
Newcastle United were among the teams linked to Wahi along with last season’s Champions League finalists Inter Milan.
Wahi has spent his entire senior career at Montpellier thus far and he is under contract until 2025.
It is believed that the Ligue 1 team have slapped a €40m (£34.5m) price tag on the young star.
If Chelsea get the deal over the line, the report that it is likely he will French side Strasbourg on loan – the club where Blues co-owner Todd Boehly recently bought a majority stake.
The west Londoners have just defeated Wrexham and Brighton in pre-season and their 2023-24 campaign gets started on August 13 as they host Liverpool in their opening Premier League game.
New head coach Mauricio Pochettino is looking to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around after they struggled last season under three different managers – Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard – as the team finished 12th without a trophy.
