Belgian starlet Kevin de Bruyne is ready to sign for Chelsea, skysports.com understands.
Belgian starlet confirms he wants to join Blues
Belgian starlet Kevin de Bruyne is ready to sign for Chelsea,
skysports.com understands.
And Anderlecht have also finally confirmed that they are in negotiations with the Blues over Romelu Lukaku.
De Bruyne has just helped Genk to the Belgian title and the 19-year-old is regarded as one the best young midfielders in European football.
Chelsea have long been tracking him and now
skysports.com can confirm that a deal is being discussed and looks set to be concluded.
De Bruyne's agent Patrick de Koster has told
skysports.com that the player looks destined for Chelsea, but as part of that he is more than happy to move to Anderlecht on loan.
"Kevin is ready to step forward in his career now, he has done what he needs to at Genk and is ready for the next step," de Koster told
skysports.com.
"And Kevin wants to move to England."
Chelsea have been tracking the midfielder for a number of months, and de Koster confirmed that they were de Bruyne's first choice, despite interest from the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
"He knows Chelsea have been following him for a long time, and Chelsea would be his first choice, I had meetings with other clubs - although nothing more than on a scouting level, but he knows what can be achieved at Chelsea," he continued.
Chelsea's plan is to send de Bruyne on loan to Anderlecht, which looks likely to smooth over their deal for Lukaku, although de Koster insists it is not officially part of that deal.
"No, that is not the case with this," he said of the link.
"Kevin, though, is happy with the prospect of joining Anderlecht - he has stated that himself.
"He knows Chelsea have a history of this [loaning out players] and if you do well you will get your chance.
"And, yes, although he would benefit financially from this move, he is young and this is about his career and sporting opportunity."
Blues option
De Bruyne himself has revealed that the chance of joining Chelsea and then being loaned to Anderlecht is appealing to him.
"I have had time to think about my future and I would love to join Chelsea, but the important thing next season is that I play," he said.
"And with Chelsea there is not that guarantee, but there would be at Anderlecht and they would be ideal springboard for me.
"I know Genk are in the Champions League but they must get through two rounds anyway, and if I can improve sporting wise and obviously financially, then I hope Genk will not put any obstacles in my way."
Whilst all sides deny that de Bruyne is directly linked to the move for Lukaku, it is no doubt aiding Chelsea's negotiations with the Brussels outfit, who have now for the first time confirmed talks are under way with the London giants.
"There are still a long way to go in the negotiations," said Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck.
"But we are indeed negotiating with Chelsea, but there are other clubs we are talking to."
Reports in Belgium suggest both deals could be struck this weekend, but de Koster told us he does not know when they will go through.
"It could happen in the next half hour, it could take until August 31, that is football," he concluded.
