Southampton in advanced talks with Chelsea over loan deal for nephew of former Super Eagles defender

According to David Ornstein's report for The Athletic, Southampton are closing in on a season-long loan deal for Lesley Ugochukwu, the nephew of retired Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam.

The deal will exclude an option to buy as Chelsea rate the French-Nigerian midfielder highly as the club feel he shares the same attributes as Real Madrid star Aurélien Tchouaméni.

The feeling at Stamford Bridge is that Ugochukwu can become a better player under Russell Martin at Southampton who is said to have a similar playing style as Enzo Maresca.

With the return to fitness of Roméo Lavia and the availability of Moisés Caicedo, it will be difficult for the former Rennes starlet to get enough game time which will inhibit his development, thus the need to leave West London.

He also struggled for minutes last campaign and wasn't helped by injuries and it is in his best interest that he leaves the Blues to get more minutes under his belt and garner more Premier League experience.

Southampton are preparing for life once again in the Premier League, having gained promotion through the Championship play-offs and could make do with the services of the Super Eagles-eligible midfielder.

Ugochukwu did well during pre-season for Chelsea and will be hoping to take that form into the new season, be it with the two-time European champions or elsewhere.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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