Chelsea suffer transfer setback as Premier League rivals strike £35million deal
Chelsea are set to miss out on a deal for Archie Gray with the sought-after teenager lined up for a medical with Brentford.
Gray, 18, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Leeds United last season and, as a result, has been pursued by a cluster of top-flight clubs since Daniel Farke's side failed to win promotion from the Championship in the play-offs.
It emerged earlier this week that Chelsea were among the clubs chasing the sought-after teenager - but he is now on the verge of a move to Brentford after the Blues' London rivals stole a march on them and Gray's other suitors.
As first revealed by The Athletic, Brentford have struck a deal which could end up reaching £35million with Leeds for Gray, who made 28 appearances in all competitions last term.
The England Under-21 international is now set to undergo a medical with the Bees as they attempt to close out a deal for Gray, who came through the academy ranks at Elland Road.
While it remains to be seen if Chelsea or will make a late attempt to hijack Brentford's deal for Gray, they are expected to return with an improved bid for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after Leicester City rejected an opening bid, per The Telegraph.
Dewsbury-Hall, 25, played an instrumental role in the Leicester team which won the Championship title last season and is well known to the Blues' new head coach Enzo Maresca, who was lured to Stamford Bridge from the Foxes earlier this summer.
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Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with the Championship trophy
The midfield maestro was the subject of interest from Brighton back in January and is believed to have rejected interest from the Seagulls this time around in the wake of Chelsea's approach. He made it clear in a recent interview with the BBC, though, that he was not actively seeking a move away from his boyhood club.
He said: "I have been here since I was a kid. I love everything about the club. I grew up and managed to play in the first team. I am happy. I have never said I am actively wanting to leave. That sort of stuff is not up to me. You never know with football - the season is about to start, so we will see."
On Maresca, he added: "Enzo was an unbelievable manager. I genuinely see him becoming a top manager, so it wasn’t a surprise to see he was in demand. It is weird having to change a manager after being so successful, but that’s football."
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