Chelsea's plan for £18.5m signing revealed

Chelsea have reportedly sealed a deal for Sporting CP midfielder Dario Essugo, completing a quick-fire double swoop of Portuguese talent.

The impending confirmation of Essugo's transfer comes less than 24 hours after numerous outlets reported Chelsea's acquisition of Geovany Quenda from the same club. The Blues managed to persuade the 17-year-old starlet to accept their offer and snub Manchester United's interest chiefly because they were willing to let Quenda spend next season on loan at Sporting. There are different plans for Essugo.

The combative 20-year-old is currently on loan at Las Palmas but is expected to be thrust straight into Chelsea's first team once his £18.5m transfer goes through this summer, per Fabrizio Romano. To make room for Essugo, Enzo Maresca is set to loan Mathis Amougou - another talented midfield youngster who only arrived in February - out to Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg in the French top flight.

Despite FIFA closing the amortisation loophole which Chelsea's owners ruthlessly exploited during their 12 months at the club, handing out long-term deals so that the cost of a transfer could be spread over each year of the contract, Essugo has earned himself a lengthy stay at Stamford Bridge. The Portugal under-21 international is expected to pen a deal which will stretch until June 2032 and contains an option of a one-year extension.

Essugo has been billed as the understudy to Moises Caicedo. Chelsea's Ecuadorian fan favourite is an ever-present in Maresca's midfield, offering unparalleled levels of defensive solidity behind a less-than-industrious frontline. However, charging into so many tackles naturally puts Caicedo at risk of collecting yellow cards which can lead to suspensions.

As Maresca reasoned earlier this month: "He's a midfielder. You are in the traffic. Sometimes you have to make some fouls. It's normal."

In the event that Caicedo is unavailable or Maresca is inclined to give his one-man wrecking ball a rest, Essugo could well come into the team. The defensive midfielder has been guilty of some disciplinary breaches of his own, but averages more combined tackles and interceptions than any other midfield regular in La Liga this season.

READ THE LATEST CHELSEA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP