Chelsea target Archie Gray and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in search for new midfield options | OneFootball

Leicester favourite open to reunion with former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge despite Brighton interest

Chelsea have signalled interest in both Leicester’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Archie Gray of Leeds.

The Blues have not made any official approach for either player, but are understood to be looking seriously at new midfield options.

Leicester youth product Dewsbury-Hall is a long-running target for Brighton, but Chelsea are now weighing up whether to move.

The 25-year-old thrived under Enzo Maresca as Leicester won the Championship title last season, and now boasts a clutch of interested clubs.

Dewsbury-Hall is understood to be keen to work again with Maresca, who has replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea head coach.

The Hinckley-born midfielder is thought to be open to a move to Chelsea, with Blues bosses impressed by his development.

Leeds’ teenage star Gray has represented England at every age group level and is touted for the very top of the game.

New targets: Chelsea are eyeing both Leeds’ Archie Gray and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at Leicester

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A midfielder who can also play at right-back, the 18-year-old joined Leeds’ Under-9s in 2014.

Gray made Leeds’ first-team bench as a 15-year-old some six times without featuring in the 2021-22 season, before breaking through last term – when he won the Championship’s young player of the year award.

Both Leicester and Leeds need to make sales this summer, and offloading homegrown talents would offer a significant financial boost.

The sales of academy graduates represent ‘pure profit’ in the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) framework.

Selling youth players has become highly attractive to clubs looking to stay within the Premier League’s financial rules this summer.