Lesley Ugochukwu: Chelsea sign Rennes midfielder on seven-year deal

Lesley Ugochukwu featured 47 times in Ligue 1 for Rennes in 2022-23.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino says new signing Lesley Ugochukwu may go on loan after the midfielder joined Chelsea for 27m euros (£23.2m) from Rennes.

Ugochukwu has signed a seven-year deal but Pochettino has not yet decided the Frenchman’s immediate future.

The 19-year-old has made 47 Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes and has also featured in the Europa League.

“We need to assess him when he starts training today and then in London after the tour,” said Pochettino.

“He’s a young, talented player. Now is the time to assess him until the end of the transfer window and see if he is going to be with us or maybe it can be a possibility to loan him.”

Ugochukwu, whose deal has the option of another year, is yet to make his senior debut for France but has played for Les Bleus at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.

He could return to Ligue 1 for next season because the Blues’ ownership group purchased a majority stake in Alsace club Strasbourg in June.

Chelsea have been pursuing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo throughout the transfer window – with a £80m bid rejected last week – and Pochettino has been calling for more experienced players to add to his squad.

Chelsea have a strategy of signing young talent with the potential to be future stars while clearing out their bloated squad following a £600m spend in the past two transfer windows.

Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount have all departed this summer for Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United respectively, while N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy have moved to the Saudi Pro League.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic both made the switch to Italian club AC Milan, while Conor Gallagher has been the subject of a £40m offer from West Ham United.

Chelsea have already added attackers Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to their squad as well as Brazilian youngster Angelo Gabriel.

Ugochukwu will be the only new player to join up with the 29-man squad that is travelling in the US, but Pochettino is happy with the Blues’ summer recruitment so far.

“No, I am not disappointed because when we joined we knew we would find this situation,” the Argentine added.

“I am happy in the way the club is working. Of course, we are working hard to try to finish the squad as soon as possible.

“We all know in the last few weeks of the transfer window maybe some things are going to happen. Always it is better to have everything closed before – not only us, for different clubs also.”

Colwill looks set to stay at Chelsea

Defender Levi Colwill’s future has been discussed a lot through this summer following interest from Brighton, where he spent a successful loan spell last season.

The 20-year-old posted a farewell message to the Seagulls on Instagram and looks set to be part of the Chelsea squad next season.

“I was clear with him. One of the things we were talking about was for him to have the possibility to compete with different team-mates, about deserving to play and for sure if he deserves to play he is going to play,” said Pochettino.

“Of course there is the possibility to play. Because Ben [Badiashile] is injured his chances are higher because he is a left-footed centre back. He will compete with Ben.

“There are different types of combinations that can happen. He needs to show he is ready to play and deserves to play.”

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