Chelsea strike £12m deal to sign Portuguese midfielder - report

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Basel midfielder Renato Veiga, a report has revealed.

The Blues remain on a relentless quest to snap up the game's top young players and have already splashed out on Estevao Willian and Marc Guiu this summer.

Next through the door, according to Fabrizio Romano, will be 20-year-old Veiga, who has agreed the terms of a move to Stamford Bridge which will be worth around £12m.

Veiga, a defensive midfielder by trade, is also comfortable at centre-back and has even popped up on the left of defence in the past.

The Portuguese national's agent recently named AC Milan as long-term suitors but also hinted at interest from the Premier League, and it appears as though Veiga's next home lies in England's top flight.

Veiga is not the only youngster nearing a move to Chelsea, with the Blues also close to wrapping up a deal to sign Boca Juniors centre-back Aaron Anselmino.

TyC Sports state the terms of a $18m (£14m) deal have now been wrapped up after Chelsea agreed to let the 19-year-old remain with Boca on loan for the next 12 months, although the Blues can bring his move forwards to January 2025 if needed.

If Anselmino sees out his 12-month spell with Boca, he will move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2025 alongside Estevao and Ecuador midfielder Kendry Paez, who will cost Chelsea close to £70m combined.

Chelsea's youth project has been dubbed 'Project 2030', although the fate of their plan was thrown into doubt with the news that Neil Bath, a key figure in Chelsea's academy success over the past decade, will depart the club this summer alongside head of youth development Jim Fraser.

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