Chelsea close to landing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester for £30m

Chelsea are close to making a breakthrough in talks with Leicester City and hope to finalise the £30 million capture of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on Sunday.

Former Leicester manager Enzo Maresca is poised to raid his old club for the midfielder following days of negotiations between the two clubs.

Dewsbury-Hall, 25, will now make the move to Stamford Bridge, with teenage Chelsea midfielder Michael Golding switching to Leicester in a separate deal.

The expected transfer of Dewsbury-Hall is certain to frustrate Brighton, who had targeted him over the past two transfer windows. Telegraph Sport understands that he completed a medical at Brighton this week after the two clubs agreed a fee.

Yet Maresca has now moved for the player who made a huge contribution to Leicester’s promotion last season, with confirmation expected in the next 24 hours.

The fact that Dewsbury-Hall is left-footed is attractive to Chelsea, as their other central midfielders are right-footed, and he is a player who fits Maresca’s system. He was appointed to implement a new style of play at Stamford Bridge.

Dewsbury-Hall is seen as a different and more attacking option than Chelsea’s other central midfielders who are likely to challenge for first-team places, such as Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Conor Gallagher – if the latter stays.

The loss of Dewsbury-Hall will be a blow to Leicester but head coach Steve Cooper will now plan ahead with his pre-season preparations and focus on making some new additions.

Leicester have been left with little option but to make a significant sale this month as they grapple with the Premier League’s financial controls.

After being charged in March, Leicester are under some pressure to raise around £40 million before the June 30 deadline.

Dewsbury-Hall’s sale, and the £10 million in compensation banked from Chelsea for Maresca and his six backroom staff, will provide the club with a major boost in their attempts to avoid further breaches.