Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is on the verge of a loan move to Southampton. The 20-year-old is set to undergo a medical with the south coast club on Friday as he prepares to join them for the upcoming season.

This move will be a straightforward loan deal without an option for a permanent transfer, as Chelsea considers Ugochukwu part of their long-term plans. The young midfielder arrived at Chelsea last summer from Rennes in a deal exceeding £20 million, but a hamstring injury before Christmas limited him to just 15 appearances.

Despite a promising pre-season, including a goal against Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have decided that a loan spell at Southampton will be beneficial for his development.

Ugochukwu’s loan could be the beginning of a significant player exodus from Chelsea before the transfer deadline. Conor Gallagher’s protracted move to Atletico Madrid remains uncertain, while Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to depart after being deemed surplus to requirements.

Striker Romelu Lukaku, who has been on loan at Inter Milan and Roma for the past two seasons, is reportedly a target for Napoli. Additionally, players like Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka, David Datro Fofana, and Kepa Arrizabalaga have all been linked with moves away as Chelsea aims to reduce their squad size.