Chelsea transfer news: Blues, Brighton 'battling' to sign Serie A defensive prodigy this summer

Chelsea person reportedly joined Brighton & Hove Albion successful the contention for Atalanta BC defender Honest Ahanor this summer.

The Blues person arguably the champion right-back successful satellite shot successful the signifier of Reece James, who was struggled with hamstring-related setbacks successful caller times whilst connected planetary work with England.

However, the Chelsea prima is supposedly acceptable to diagnostic for the Three Lions successful their World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway connected Saturday night, with the winners facing either Argentina oregon Switzerland successful the last four.

One subordinate who could beryllium departing Stamford Bridge this summertime is midfielder Andrey Santos, with the Brazilian edging towards a £50m determination to the Theatre of Dreams to join Manchester United.

With Jarell Quansah suspended for 2 matches owed to his reddish paper against Mexico astatine the Azteca connected Monday morning, it is apt to beryllium either James oregon Djed Spence astatine right-back for England versus Norway.

Chelsea, Brighton conflict for Atalanta prima Ahanor?

According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, Chelsea person precocious joined the contention for the services of Ahanor, who received his elder planetary debut for Italy successful affable matches earlier successful the summer.

The study claims that the Blues look contention from Premier League counterparts Brighton for the 18-year-old, with the 2 clubs acceptable for a transportation conflict for the centre-back this summer.

As good arsenic Chelsea and the Seagulls, it is understood that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest are besides immense admirers of teenage sensation Ahanor.

The two-time Italy planetary lone made the power to Atalanta from chap Serie A outfit Genoa past summertime for a full fiscal bundle of £17m, however, helium could beryllium connected the determination yet again.

Ahanor inactive has 2 years near connected his existent woody with La Dea, meaning the selling nine are successful nary contiguous unreserved to portion ways with a antiaircraft prodigy who played 9 times successful the Champions League past season.

Brighton's antiaircraft dealings

After an eighth-placed decorativeness successful the 2025-26 Premier League standings, Brighton are gearing up for a imaginable Conference League campaign, fixed that they tin navigate themselves into the League Phase via the qualification rounds.

There person already been seismic changes astatine centre-back for the Seagulls, with standout defender Jan Paul van Hecke moving to Tottenham for a interest successful the portion of £50m successful the mediate of June.

Keen to regenerate the Dutchman earlier the commencement of the caller campaign, Brighton swooped to poach compatriot Pascal Struijk from Leeds United, with Ahanor perchance the adjacent accomplishment connected the South Coast.