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Chelsea are reportedly closing in on the signing of Ivorian defender Guela Doue from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes. The Blues will likely send the right-back to sister club Strasbourg on loan, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
Ivory Coast international defender Doue has impressed in his time at Rennes, where he plays alongside his younger brother, Desire. The younger Doue was on the radar of the Blues but seems set to move to one of Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich this summer.
Di Marzio reports that Chelsea have made a move for Guela Doue, as they look to sign a new right-back this summer. The Blues earlier made a move to sign Brazilian youngster Pedro Lima this summer but the 18-year-old decided to move to Wolverhampton Wanderers instead.
Enzo Maresca's side will sign Doue for an initial fee of €7 million with a further €2 million in add-ons. They will then send the Ivorian defender out on loan to Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg, where he will further his development.
The Premier League side have earlier signed USMNT international Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United, to loan him to the same Strasbourg side this summer.
Chelsea have commenced their pre-season tour of the USA and have two senior right-backs available in Reece James and Malo Gusto. The Blues also have talented teenager Josh Acheampong in their squad in the USA and he featured against Wrexham in their first friendly.
Chelsea held by Wrexham in pre-season opener
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by League One side Wrexham in their first pre-season game of the summer on Thursday (July 24). The sides met each other at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara in what was a keenly contested encounter.
New head coach Enzo Maresca named a strong XI from the start, with summer signings Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Guiu playing from the start. Teenage sensation Tyrique George also started, with Romeo Lavia also making his second appearance for the club.
The Blues opened the scoring through Christopher Nkunku in the first half after he reacted quickest to a deflected effort. Maresca made wholesale changes at half-time, introducing ten new players for the second half, including 18-year-old Acheampong.
Wrexham scored twice through Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott in the second half before Chelsea equalized through Lesley Ugochukwu. The Blues will face Scottish champions Celtic in their next pre-season friendly on Saturday (July 27), as they look to ramp up preparations for the new season.
