Chelsea are closing in on an agreement to sign Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer to kick-start the Enzo Maresca era.

The centre-back rejected multiple new contract offers from current club Fulham during the season in favour of leaving on a Bosman, which saw him not included in matchday squads for the final weeks of the season.

The former Tottenham transfer target was also of interest to Manchester United and looked set to sign for Newcastle, but Chelsea hijacked the deal by offering more attractive terms, and are now expected to win the race for his signature.

Adarabioyo will become Chelsea’s first signing since Maresca agreed to replace Mauricio Pochettino as the Blues’ manager. Brazilian youngster Estevao Willian is also expected to join, with a deal agreed before Maresca was approached.

The 26-year-old will compete with centre-backs Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill at Chelsea, and his signing would mitigate the effects of losing Thiago Silva, who this summer returns to former club Fluminense in his native Brazil after four years at Stamford Bridge.

The free signing of former Manchester City academy product Adarabioyo could also signal the end of Trevoh Chalobah’s Chelsea career.

Chalobah had a strong end to the season after being sidelined for six months with a hamstring injury but his sale would count as pure profit to the Blues’s attempte to stay in line with Profit & Sustainability Regulations (PSR).