Chelsea continue youth spending with £17m move for Boca Juniors centre-back

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of 19-year-old Boca Juniors centre-back Aaron Anselmino, a report has revealed.

Anselmino, who can also play in midfield, is rated extremely highly in South America despite his limited exposure to senior football - the teenager has appeared just ten times for the Boca first-team since his breakthrough earlier this year.

That emergence has caught the eye of Chelsea and The Athletic state Anselmino is close to becoming the latest South American youngster to head to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are expected to pay a fee of around £17m for Anselmino, who has agreed the terms of a six-year contract in London.

Earlier reports suggested Boca were trying to keep Anselmino on loan for the next six months but it is now claimed Chelsea will send the youngster on loan to sister side Strasbourg in France's Ligue 1.

Fellow South Americans Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos, both of Brazil, spent last season on loan at Strasbourg, who are also expected to formally recruit 18-year-old Senegal midfielder Pape Daouda Diongue despite an initial belief that he would sign on with Chelsea.

Recruiting in the continent has been a key focus for Chelsea, with scout Alysson Marins regularly reporting on a number of emerging talents.

After last summer's arrivals of Angelo, Santos and Deivid Washington, deals have also been struck to sign Ecuador's Kendry Paez and Brazil's Estevao Willian in the summer of 2025.

In the meantime, Chelsea will give impending arrival Marc Guiu the chance to impress new manager Enzo Maresca in pre-season. Guiu is due in London on Thursday to undergo his medical ahead of a €6m (£5.1m) switch from Barcelona.

Forward Omari Kellyman is also close to completing his own £19m move from Aston Villa.

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