Chelsea have reportedly opened the bidding for Montpellier teen Elye Wahi. Manager Mauricio Pochettino is eager to snap up the striker earlier than sending him on mortgage to sister membership Strasbourg, the place he can proceed to hone his craft earlier than arriving within the Premier League.

Last season, Wahi hit double figures in Ligue 1 for the second marketing campaign on the trot. And he did so in some model, racking up 19 targets to pip the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Alexis Sanchez.

Chelsea have been credited with curiosity in current weeks, and Mohamed Toubache-Ter by way of GFFN claims that the Blues have now kicked off the public sale with a verbal provide of £21million. Montpellier reportedly need £30m to sanction Wahi's exit.

If profitable in signing the 20-year-old, Pochettino is believed to be planning a mortgage transfer throughout Ligue 1 to Strasbourg.

Chelsea's house owners purchased a controlling stake within the French membership earlier this summer season. Todd Boehly and co are eager to make use of the partnership to forge a helpful pathway for younger gamers with the potential to make a future impression at Stamford Bridge.

Time will inform whether or not Montpellier settle for Chelsea's first provide for Wahi, who has scored 32 targets in 91 matches for the primary workforce, or whether or not the Blues could be tempted to come back again with an improved second provide.

Ahead of a forthcoming pre-season conflict with Newcastle United, Pochettino has reiterated the necessity for extra summer season recruits. "We need at least one more [midfielder] and we are working on that," said the previous Tottenham boss.

"At the moment, we are working to reinforce that area, and other areas also. I think the players that are here on the tour are in our plans, Chelsea's plans. We are working very hard to try to add more players in different areas and hope that is possible soon."