On Tuesday, journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported Chelsea have reached an agreement in principle with KRC Genk over signing Mike Penders.
Wednesday’s edition of Het Belang van Limburg backs that up and gives an insight on why the Blues decided to sign the goalkeeper.
Chelsea ‘want to go to great lengths’ to sign the 19-year-old, who made his senior team debut last weekend.
The Jupiler Pro League side have received a proposal close to €20m from Chelsea, and the negotiations between the two clubs are ‘nearing competition’.
It’s claimed Genk couldn’t reject this bid for a youngster who has made only one appearance for the first team so far. His sale can also help them raise funds, which are needed to carry out signings in this window.
Enzo Maresca’s side will allow the Belgium U19 international to return to Genk on loan next season, so that he can continue his development.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has tasked directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart to ‘actively and aggressively’ look for ‘great young talents’ in Europe and South America.
During their search, they came across Penders, and the report says the Premier League side scouted him for a long time. Chelsea are close to completing the deal for a player who was identified by Winstanley and Stewart.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the deal to take Penders to Chelsea is in its final stages as the English club have discussed when the stopper could undergo medical tests. There’s no date mentioned, but it indicates the deal is advanced.
