Chelsea suffer transfer setback as Premier League rivals complete £35m deal

Chelsea are likely to miss out on the chance to sign Archie Gray as the sought-after teenager awaits a medical at Brentford.

Gray, 18, made his breakthrough at Leeds United last season and has been courted by a number of top clubs since Daniel Farke’s team failed to gain promotion from the Championship in the play-offs.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Chelsea were among the clubs in the running for the coveted teenager – but he is now on the verge of a move to Brentford after the Blues’ London rivals beat them and Gray’s other suitors to the move.

As first revealed by The Athletic, Brentford have agreed a deal with Leeds for Gray, which could ultimately be worth £35 million. Gray made 28 appearances in all competitions last season.

The England U21 international will now have to undergo a medical with the Bees in order to complete a deal with Gray, who comes from the academy at Elland Road.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea or Brentford will make a late attempt to snap up Gray’s deal, but according to The Telegraph, they are expected to come back with an improved offer for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after Leicester City rejected an initial bid.

Dewsbury-Hall, 25, played a key role in Leicester’s side that 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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The midfield maestro was the subject of interest from Brighton in January and is said to have rejected the Seagulls’ interest this time around following an offer from Chelsea. However, in a recent interview with the BBC, he clarified that he is not actively pursuing a move away from his boyhood club.

He said: “I’ve been here since I was a kid. I love everything about this club. I’ve grown up and managed to play in the first team. I’m happy. I never said I wanted to retire. Things like that are out of my hands. In football, you never know – the season starts soon, so we’ll see.”

He added of Maresca: “Enzo was an incredible coach. I really believe he can be a top coach, so it was no surprise that he was in demand. It’s strange to have to change coach after such success, but that’s football.”

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