Julio Enciso was expected to team up with a former [Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/) colleague – and eventually Chelsea – according to a report on Wednesday evening.
The Paraguay international was said to be of interest to BlueCo, the company who own Chelse and Strasbourg.
Any deal could see him link up with a Strasbourg side coached by Liam Rosenior and whose squad includes ex-Seagulls left-back Valentin Barco.
Enciso had knee surgery in Buenos Aires this summer to solve an ongoing issue.
His national team boss Gustavo Alfaro recently met with Enciso and said he was in a eish to get fit and sort his future in Europe.
FC Porto were strongly linked with interest in his services ahead of the Club World Cup.
Julio Enciso training with Valentin Barco _(Image: Andrew Gardner)_
Enciso and Barco were members of a strong South American contingent at Albion which is now somewhat reduced in number.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who reported agreement between BlueCo (rather than an individual club) and Albion, says Enciso is seen as a potential Chelsea player in the longer term.
He scored a sensational winning goal when Albion secured a 2-1 success at Stamford Bridge in 2022-23.
That was soon followed by an even better finish at home to Manchester City but, partly due to injury, his blossoming career has stalled since then in terms of club football, if not with his national team.
He scored in an FA Cup win at Norwich City last January but he does not seem to be part of Fabian Hurzeler’s plans.
Enciso would become part of a tie-up between Chelsea and Strasbourg which has angered some fans of the Alsace club.
A recent statement by Strasbourg supporters read: “The transfer window carried out so far proves to the point of absurdity that Racing is no longer a club that makes decisions in its own interest.”
Albion boss Hurzeler will speak to media from 9am on Thursday as he hosts his customary press conference ahead of a weekend fixture.