Chelsea have reportedly made the breakthrough in negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The two clubs are no strangers to conducting business with each other, with Marc Cucurella and Graham Potter moving to Chelsea last year and Levi Colwill, on loan, and Billy Gilmour going in the opposite direction.
However, discussions this summer have been far more drawn-out, Chelsea having failed to reach an agreement with their Seagulls counterparts for Moises Caicedo.
Whether that reaches a positive conclusion for Chelsea remains to be seen, with Brighton demanding £100m, but the club's recruitment team have recently taken an interest in one of Caicedo's teammates.
For all of Chelsea's success in reshaping their squad since the end of last season, they remain without senior competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks.
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With Gabriel Slonina expected to go out on loan, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been eager to sign experienced backup as soon as possible with the Premier League opener against Liverpool coming on August 13.
According to journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, Chelsea have wasted little time in reaching an agreement with Brighton for Sanchez, who is now third choice at the American Express Community Stadium.
The report claims that the West Londoners are willing to pay £25m for the Spain international to link up with his compatriot Arrizabalaga in the goalkeeping department.
Sanchez has spent the past decade contracted to the South Coast outfit, initially spending five years in the youth ranks before going out on loan to EFL clubs.
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As many as 52 appearances were made for Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale respectively before he enjoyed three years in the senior squad at Brighton, accumulating 90 matches in all competitions.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old has fallen down the pecking order under Roberto De Zerbi, losing his place to Jason Steele during the final three months of 2022-23.
There was also a point when Sanchez relinquished his spot on the substitutes' bench, and Brighton have since signed young Dutchman Bart Verbruggen to compete with Steele.
A medical will now take place in due course with Sanchez expected to be confirmed as a Chelsea player over the coming days.
Darren Plant
