Chelsea are set to burst ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool in the race to sign 17-year-old left-back Yisa Alao, according to reports - in a late hijack from BlueCo.
Chelsea have made a conscious effort to land young talent in previous years, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Estevao, Andrey Santos and more featuring heavily so far this season in what is one of the youngest squads in the division.
And that commitment to signing top youthful talent could see the Blues land ahead of their elite rivals, with Alao opting for a move down south for new beginnings after coming through the ranks at Hillsborough, joining Wednesday as a six-year-old back in 2014.
Report: Chelsea Set to Hijack Man Utd and Liverpool Bids for Alao
Stamford Bridge
The report by The Athletic reporter Laurie Whitwell states that Chelsea are set to hijack Manchester United and Liverpool's moves for Alao, who has dazzled at Sheffield Wednesday.
Liverpool had made a bid for his services earlier in the window, as had United, but it appears that the 'exciting' full-back will be on his way to West London, snubbed a move across the Pennines and beyond to join up with the club's Cobham academy.