Chelsea ‘consider move for Tyler Adams’ with the Leeds star ‘on Mauricio Pochettino’s shortlist’ to bolster their limited midfield options

Chelsea have reportedly added Tyler Adams to a shortlist of options to bolster their limited options in midfield.

The Blues have been left short in the middle of the park, following the exits of Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino could include just six midfielders in his squad for their tour of the US, with Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez the only two senior options available.

It’s no secret that Brighton star Moises Caicedo is Chelsea’s top target, though the Blues last week had an £80m bid rejected for the 21-year-old.

The Times are now reporting that USA international Adams is also on Pochettino’s shortlist.

Adams was a bright point for Leeds in a disappointing season, and his absence with injury in the final months of the campaign was a big blow as they were relegated from the top-flight

Adams is believed to have a release clause in his contract which would be active after Leeds failed to escape the drop from the Premier League last season.

The USA captain though is currently recovering from a hamstring injury which required surgery in March.  

He is not expected to be fit for the start of Leeds’s Championship campaign, which kicks off against Cardiff on August 6. 

Adams was one of Leeds’s bright spots in a disappointing season, and his absence was felt in the final months of the season. 

The midfielder who has won 36 caps for his country, joined Leeds for £20m last summer following three years at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. 

His release clause, as per the Athletic, is also believed to be around £20m.  

Chelsea are also reportedly considering other midfield targets including Ajax’s Edson Alvarez and Gabri Viega of LaLiga side Celta Vigo.  

Mauricio Pochettino’s squad has been left short in midfield following a number of exits

The Blues could do with some experience with the six midfielders on their tour of the US, Fernandez, Gallagher, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall, Andrey Santos and Cesare Casadei – averaging just 7.6 starts in the Premier League. 

Chelsea have agreed a £23.5m deal with Rennes for France under-19 international Lesley Ugochukwu, though Pochettino has indicated that the incoming midfielder has been bought with a view to initially going out on

He said in a press conference: ‘My information is he is a player that is from France that maybe they are signing with the idea to send on some loan, using a different club but that information was already in your laptop.

‘There is nothing to say too much.’