Chelsea to accelerate brutal Leeds raid, with transfer to spark separate Tottenham swoop

Two sources have confirmed Chelsea are primed to open talks over signing a Leeds United ace, and a potential double deal will pave the way for Tottenham to raid the Blues, per reports.

Chelsea remain determined to sign Brighton destroyer, Moises Caicedo. No fewer than four bids have been rejected, with the most recent worth £80m.

Brighton have been emboldened to hold out for a nine-figure sum having seen Declan Rice – who is three years older than Caicedo – join Arsenal for £105m.

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea will continue to push for Caicedo, though there’s a second midfield addition in their sights too.

They state Chelsea are ‘set to move’ for Leeds midfielder, Tyler Adams. Per the report, the American is ‘poised to leave Leeds United’.

Adams was one of very few to emerge with credit in Leeds’ ill-fated campaign last season. The 24-year-old battled hard in the engine room before missing the run-in due to injury.

Per the Telegraph, Adams’ contract at Elland Road contains a clause that can see him signed for an undisclosed fee if Leeds suffered relegation. According to Fabrizio Romano, the figure is set at a modest £20m.

As such, Leeds are powerless to prevent an exit for a player who’d command a far higher fee on the open market.

Per Romano, Chelsea approached the player’s camp last week and have been encouraged to firm up an approach to Leeds.

Romano echoed much of the Telegraph’s reporting before adding Chelsea “will open talks” with Leeds in “the coming days”.

Romano confirmed any move for Adams is independent of Chelsea’s pursuit of Caicedo. Per the Telegraph, Mauricio Pochettino wants both, not one or the other.

Two in, one out… to Tottenham?

In the event Chelsea do land Adams and Caicedo, the Telegraph hint Conor Gallagher could be the fall guy.

West Ham have already seen a £40m bid for Gallagher rejected this summer. The newspaper state Tottenham could be next to try their luck for the midfield livewire.

Indeed, the Telegraph conclude Gallagher is ‘wanted by Tottenham’ who could view the Englishman as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The Dane is “really keen to try a different experience” away from Tottenham, according to Romano. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are chasing his signature.

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