Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sign Independiente del Valle midfielder Kendry Paez.
The 2007-born protege has enjoyed a breakthrough into the first team for the Ecuadorian giants this season with one goal from three appearances in the Serie A Primera Etapa.
Even before making his inaugural first-team appearance, Paez's performances at youth level attracted the attention of top European clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Red Devils are said to have had a bid for Paez rejected by Independiente back in December, but Chelsea have had better luck negotiating with their South American counterparts.
According to Sky Sports News, the Blues are set to win the race for the midfielder for a £20m fee, having agreed a deal in principle with Independiente.
Due to his age, Paez would not join Chelsea until he turns 18 in the summer of 2025, and he will continue to ply his trade in his homeland for the next couple of years.
As well as Man United, the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City and Real Madrid - who won the race to sign Palmeiras starlet Endrick - were also supposedly vying to sign Paez.
A five-cap Ecuador Under-17s international, Paez has amassed one goal and five assists at that level for his country, setting up three goals in two games during the current Under-17 South American Championship.
Paez will follow a similar career path to that of Moises Caicedo, who left Independiente in January 2021 to join Brighton & Hove Albion and has shone in the Premier League since.
Chelsea brought in another youthful midfielder from South America in Andrey Santos during the most recent winter window, although the Brazilian has since been loaned straight back to Vasco da Gama.
The Blues are facing uncertainty with several of their current midfielders, though, with N'Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and Mateo Kovacic all being linked with summer exits.
Kante has entered the final three months of his existing contract at Stamford Bridge, but the Frenchman - who has just returned after seven months out with a hamstring injury - is now said to be on the verge of signing a two-year extension.
However, the Blues are yet to open talks over a renewal with Kovacic, who will become a free agent in 2024 as things stand and is thought to be on the radar of three Premier League clubs.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are believed to be admirers of both Mount and Gallagher, while Loftus-Cheek could also be axed as part of a mass summer clearout.
Chelsea - who sacked Graham Potter on Sunday evening - lie 11th in the Premier League table, and Bruno Saltor will take charge for Tuesday's visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge. body check tags ::
