Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle to sign the Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sánchez for a fee worth up to £25m. Sánchez, who is due to undergo a medical, lost his place under Roberto De Zerbi last season.
Signing a goalkeeper has been a priority for Chelsea and they want the Spain international to provide competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea have moved quickly in negotiations over Sánchez, who is set to cost £20m plus £5m in add-ons, and they remain in talks with Brighton over a deal for the Ecuador midfielder Moisés Caicedo. Brighton want £100m for Caicedo and have rejected several bids for the 21-year-old.
Mauricio Pochettino is desperate for additions in midfield, where he is short on depth and experience before his new side host Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season. Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernández are the only senior midfielders after the departures of Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kanté and Mason Mount.
Chelsea have made one midfield signing, buying Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes for £23.5m, but the 19-year-old is expected to go on loan to Strasbourg. Competition for Gallagher and Fernández comes from talented but raw youngsters – Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos and Carney Chukwuemeka.