Chelsea striker 'closing in' on loan exit with £20m clause

Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana is expected to complete a loan move to Greek side AEK Athens, reports have revealed.

Fofana, 21, enjoyed a solid loan spell with Burnley during the second half of last season but failed to secure a move away before the end of the Premier League's transfer window, leaving him stuck in limbo after being added to Chelsea's 'bomb squad' of exiled stars.

AEK Athens had been tipped to lure Fofana over before the closure of the Greek transfer window but initial talks broke down, although Nizaar Kinsella reports that negotiations have resumed and a positive resolution is near.

Fofana has given his approval to a loan switch to the Greek side and the terms of a deal which will also include a £20m option to make the move permanent have been agreed.

That fee is around four times greater than AEK Athens' current transfer record - the £5.5m acquisition of Orbelin Pineda in 2023.

Fofana is now undergoing a medical ahead of finalising his move. The Greek transfer window closes on Wednesday evening.

Should the deal go through as expected, Chelsea would have just one overseas loan spot remaining, having already used four on Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors), Andrey Santos, Caleb Wiley and Djordje Petrovic (all Strasbourg).

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