SOUTHAMPTON are closing in on Chelsea starlet Tino Livramento – pipping Brighton to his signature.
The 18-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge but talks over an extension are said to have collapsed.
Thomas Tuchel called the defender up to two Premier League matchday squads last season but he is yet to make a senior debut for the club.
Interest heightened in Livramento earlier in the summer and Brighton were linked amid talk that he wanted first-team football next season.
But negotiations have advanced over a £5million transfer to Southampton.
The South Coast outfit are said to be offering a five-year contract to the 18-year-old and the chance to play a role in the senior side.
Chelsea have included both a sell-on and buy-back clause in the deal.
But SunSport understands the size of the option is more than £25m, meaning Saints would earn more than five times their original investment if they were to sell the player back to Stamford Bridge.
'DIFFICULT DECISION'
On Monday afternoon, Livramento confirmed his impending exit with a heartfelt goodbye to the Blues faithful.
He tweeted: "After 10 amazing years of playing for the only club that I’ve supported since a child, I’m taking the next big step in my career.
"It's been a difficult decision, but I feel it’s the right one to make at this stage of my development. Thank you for everything Chelsea."
After losing Ryan Bertrand on a free transfer, Kyle Walker-Peters and £11m signing from Brest, Romain Perraud, are set to be Ralph Hasenhuttl's first-choice full-backs in the new campaign.
But Livramento, who won Chelsea's Academy Player of the Season award for 2020-21, would feature as an understudy and is capable of playing on both flanks in defence and midfield.
Southampton have already snapped up Blues prospect Dynel Simeu in an estimated £1.5m deal earlier this summer.
Competition for Livramento's signature has been considerable with Manchester City, Arsenal, AC Milan, Monaco and RB Leipzig all named as interested.
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Chelsea have seen a number of young stars depart on permanent deals this summer.
West Ham snapped up defender Pierre Ekwah-Elimby before Fikayo Tomori's loan stint in Milan was made permanent for £26m.
Crystal Palace paid £21m for Marc Guehi and Leeds secured a £1.5m deal for Lewis Bate, with Charlie Wiggett, Myles Peart-Harris and Jon Russell joining Newcastle, Brentford and Huddersfield respectively.
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