Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Chicago Fire's teenage goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, football.london has been told. The 18-year-old was also of interest to Real Madrid but it looks as if the Blues have won the race.
Slonina has played 13 times in the MLS this season so far for Chicago Fire, keeping five clean sheets in the process. His performances certainly caught the eye of Chelsea, who are now expected to bring the young American to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues sounded out a move for Slonina in February of this year, with the confidence they could agree a deal for the shot-stopper, but the sanctions imposed on former owner Roman Abramovich complicated the process. It's likely that Slonina will be loaned out next season to try and gain more first-team experience.
