Chelsea in Talks to Sign Basel Midfielder Renato Veiga Amidst Pursuit of Young Talent

Chelsea has reportedly struck a £12m deal to sign Basel midfielder Renato Veiga, as they continue their pursuit of top young talent. The Blues have already made signings this summer, including Estevao Willian and Marc Guiu. According to Fabrizio Romano, Veiga, a 20-year-old defensive midfielder who can also play at centre-back and left-back, has agreed to move to Stamford Bridge.

Veiga’s agent had previously mentioned interest from AC Milan, but it appears that the Portuguese player is set to join the Premier League instead. Chelsea is also close to sealing a deal for Boca Juniors center-back Aaron Anselmino for $18m (£14m). The 19-year-old is expected to remain on loan at Boca for the next year before making the move to Chelsea, potentially in January 2025.

The Blues’ youth project, known as ‘Project 2030’, has seen them invest in promising young talent like Veiga, Anselmino, Estevao, and Paez. However, the future of the project was cast into doubt with the news that Neil Bath and Jim Fraser, key figures in Chelsea’s academy success, will be leaving the club this summer. Despite these changes, Chelsea’s commitment to developing young players remains strong.