Julio Enciso is closing in on a loan move to the Blues from Strasbourg, according to a Paraguayan report.

Talks between the Blues and the Ligue 1 club, where manager Gary O’Neil was manager during the second half of last season, have been ongoing for more than a week with the player understood to be keen on a return to Town following his loan spell in the second half of 2024/25.

According to VS Sports, that move is now hours away, Enciso having rebuffed interest from Turkish clubs.

However, Enciso played 45 minutes of Strasbourg’s 5-2 friendly thrashing by Bundesliga Elvesberg last night, which may suggest the switch isn’t quite as close as claimed.

The Paraguayan international made 12 starts and one sub appearance, scoring twice, during his previous spell at Portman Road.

The 22-year-old was then with Brighton but moved to Strasbourg on a four-year deal for around £10 million last summer, O’Neil taking charge of the Ligue 1 side from January until the end of last season.

Enciso, who scored 12 times in 42 games for Strasbourg during 2026/27, joined Brighton from Club Libertad in his home country for £9 million in 2022.

Capped 37 times by Paraguay, scoring five, Enciso appeared for his country at this summer’s World Cup finals.

Photo: Matchday Images