Chelsea will send the Brazil prodigy on loan to Strasbourg after signing the transfer

Young Brazilian defender Pedro Lima will soon join Strasbourg with a view to a move to Chelsea in the future, according to reports.

The Blues have embarked on a scouting campaign to sign the best talent South America has to offer and have identified Lima as a target, with a deal worth around €7m (£6m) announced.

Real Madrid are also said to be interested in the Sport Recife right-back and are hoping to make a move if the Chelsea deal goes through, but. Fabrizio Romano he said the Premier League team will now close the sale.

The fee is close to being agreed despite Los Blancos making a late bid and only the final details have to be arranged. However, he won't be moving to Stamford Bridge anytime soon.

Instead, Lima is set to join their sister club Strasbourg in France, following the path set by fellow Brazilians Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos by spending a year on loan with the Ligue 1 side.

Chelsea signed Santos from Vasco de Gama in January 2023 before signing Gabriel and David Washington last summer. Kendy Paez will also complete a move to west London next year and will be joined by Palmeiras winger Estevao, who will arrive for €65 million.

Ownership group BlueCo is not popular among Strasbourg supporters. Back in March, the supporters' group said the club was now “just a financial asset”, insisting that “Many clubs are killing football”.

The transfer strategy under Todd Boehly drew criticism from the club's supporters and pundits alike, with Chelsea eventually finishing the Premier League season in sixth place after a mixed campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentinian has left his place to be replaced by former Leicester City coach Enzo Maresca.

The first deal of the summer transfer window has already been confirmed with Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo arriving on a free transfer.

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