Chelsea close in on Honest Ahanor transfer as medical booked after £40m deal agreed

Standard Sport understands Chelsea will pay a total package of £40million for the 18-year-old defender.

Ahanor has permission from his Italian employers to travel to London for a Chelsea medical, and personal terms between Chelsea and the defender have already been agreed.

Chelsea are yet to determine whether to send him on loan immediately and to which club that might be.

The teenager is a product of the Genoa academy and has already represented Italy twice at senior level, making his debut earlier this year.

Ahanor made 28 Serie A appearances for Atalanta last season and made his Champions League debut last September.

Honest Ahanor

LondonStandard

Earlier on Thursday morning, Chelsea centre-back Mamadou Sarr underwent a medical at Real Sociedad ahead of a season-long loan move.

A move to Sociedad should provide Sarr with a level of game time Xabi Alonso could not promise him this season with Chelsea.

The young defender, recalled by Chelsea from his loan with sister club Strasbourg halfway through last season, turns 21 on Saturday.

Chelsea were criticised by some for recalling Sarr from that loan only to hand him three Premier League appearances in the second half of last term, but they believe Sarr has a bright future and are keen on him earning regular match minutes once again this season.

Nicolas Jackson is joining Aston Villa from Chelsea for a fee that includes significant add-ons and which could reach a £65m fee if all are met