Chelsea are poised to sign Senegal defender Papy Djilobodji from Nantes today in a £2.9million deal.
The transfer represents a surprise given the Premier League champions had bid £38m for Everton’s John Stones, tried to sign £18m-rated Aymen Abdennour from Monaco and lodged enquiries with Zenit St Petersburg for Ezequiel Garay and with Athletic Bilbao for Aymeric Laporte.
Each deal would have been complicated and expensive but, with the clock against them, they have banked on Djilobodji, 26, who had a year left on his contract and has been a target for Southampton, Newcastle, Celtic, Leicester and Sunderland this summer.
Djilobodji, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, is understood to have been recommended by technical director Michael Emenalo and was in talks with Trabzonspor in Turkey. He had a medical in France yesterday and his signing is due to be announced today.
Meanwhile, Victor Moses, 24, is expected to sign a two-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge before joining West Ham on loan, though they have late competition from West Brom and Tottenham.
Chelsea academy player Jeremie Boga, 18, has joined Rennes on a season-long loan while Reading have signed Lucas Piazon, 21, also on a season loan. – Daily Mail