Aston Villa are in advanced talks to sign Alejandro Garnacho on loan, with a potential obligation to buy.
The Argentina winger, 21, was made available for sale by Chelsea for £43m last month, but the club are open to a move that could see him leave permanently, under certain conditions, even if it initially takes the form of a loan.
It follows Chelsea signing Morgan Rogers for a record £117m fee from Villa on Tuesday night.
If finalised, Garnacho would be Villa’s fourth signing in a busy summer of incomings and outgoings, after Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Modou Keba Cisse moved to the Midlands club.
Player sales out of Villa total nearly £200m with Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea and Lewis Dobbin all leaving the club.
The Blues have been keen to offload Garnacho despite signing him only last September in a £40m deal from Manchester United, who would be due 10 per cent of any eventual transfer fee.
His impact at Stamford Bridge has been limited to one Premier League goal, and the arrival of Rogers and Sporting winger Geovany Quenda have increased the need to reduce the size of the squad.