Town are reported to have agreed an €11.5 million fee for Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa with the Blues close to making the Dutchman their first outfield signing of the summer.
Earlier, reports in France indicated that Matusiwa had been pulled out of the squad playing a friendly with Saint-Brieuc this morning as negotiations with the Blues were advanced.
According to L’Equipe, a fee of €11.5 million (£9.9 million) plus add-ons has been agreed between the clubs.
Rennes manager Habib Beye, who previously had told the Hilversum-born schemer he was unable to guarantee him playing time, confirmed after his side's friendly that "Matusiwa is on his way out”.
The 27-year-old defensive midfielder joined Rennes from Reims in January 2024 for €16 million (£13.8 million) having started his career at Ajax, after joining the Amsterdam club as a schoolboy from Almere City, before spells with De Graafschap (loan) and Groningen prior to moving to France and Reims in 2021.
Matusiwa, who is contracted to his current club until 2028, played international football for the Netherlands at U16 and U21 levels but also qualifies for play for Angola.
The 5ft 8in tall midfielder is the second France-based player reported to be closing in on a move to the Blues over the last 24 hours with Reims defender Cédric Kipré having been reported to be nearing a loan move to Town yesterday.