Chelsea are reportedly set to sign Molde forward David Datro Fofana.
The Blues have hugely increased the investment in their academy team since the Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover in the summer, spending over £30million on the likes of Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka.
Billed as ‘Vision 2030’, the strategy is to create a teenage side below the first team to plug gaps when needed, with the view of a long-term succession plan at Stamford Bridge.
19-year-old Fofana, who made his senior international debut for the Ivory Coast at the age of just 16, moved to Norwegian outfit Molde last year on a four-year contract from Ivorian club AFAD, based in the economic capital and largest city Abidjan.
In 65 appearances for Molde, the teenager has scored 24 goals and registered a further 10 assists, winning both the domestic League and cup during his time with a team that once boasted Erling Haaland and used to be managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He has 21 and seven this season alone and already has experience of European competition under his belt in the Europa League.
While an African Nations Championship game against Chad remains his only senior cap for his country to date, he will be hopeful of adding greatly to that number in the years ahead.
Fofana has previously spoken of his admiration of Chelsea, citing legendary compatriot and Blues icon Didier Drogba as a huge inspiration in his own career.
“Chelsea have been my favourite club since I was little,” he said previously, speaking to Norwegian outlet TV2. “Drogba played there, so they have always been my club. So it’s my dream."
Chelsea are expected to pay in excess of €10million (£8.6m) for Fofana, who was recently said to be in talks with Graham Potter’s former club Brighton. He had also been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Leicester and Bundesliga outfit Schalke in recent months.
