Chelsea 'agree deal for Deivid Washington'

Chelsea are reportedly on the brink of completing the signing of Santos youngster Deivid Washington.

Acquiring new attacking talent has been at the forefront of Chelsea's plans for the summer, Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson having been brought in to immediately bolster the first team.

However, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have made a conscious attempt to continue their raid of South American football, an effort which begun with the addition of Vasco Da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos.

Angelo Gabriel has since followed from Santos, the teenager being handed game time during the club's pre-season tour of the USA, but it has become apparent that Chelsea want to secure a deal for yet another starlet from Brazil.

Over the weekend, it was alleged that Chelsea were in discussions with Santos regarding a potential deal for Deivid, a player who has been used less frequently than Angelo.

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The 18-year-old has made just 16 appearances in the senior ranks at Estadio Urbano Caldeira, chipping in with just two goals since making the transition from the youth ranks.

Nevertheless, the Premier League giants are said to have informed their Santos counterparts that they are prepared to meet their valuation of the player.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a verbal agreement has now been reached for Deivid to make the switch to Chelsea over the coming days.

Santos will reportedly allow Deivid to move to West London for €15m (£12.9m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons, with the youngster penning a long-term contract.

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As with Angelo, the expectation is that Deivid, who was also linked with Monaco, will be loaned out to Strasbourg, who were recently purchased by Chelsea's owners.

That said, Romano adds that no official decision has been taken on Deivid's future, the possibility remaining open that he will remain at the club.

Chelsea announced their squad numbers on Tuesday, most notably revealing that no-one was occupying the number nine shirt and that Lesley Ugochukwu, who had initially been tipped to go out on loan, had been handed the number 16.

Nkunku has also been ruled out for approximately four months courtesy of knee surgery, leaving Chelsea an attacker light ahead of their Premier League opener with Liverpool on August 13.