Chelsea agree deal for 17-year old fullback, according to reports

Chelsea's army of talent to send on loan for the 201516 season has been shrinking, with the sales of youngsters such as Thorgan Hazard and Ryan Bertrand, and the expected sales of several other players who look unlikely to crack the first team at any point in the near future. Never fear, though, because the Blues are already lining up replacements, according to The Daily Mail.

The Mail claims that a deal has now been agreed to see young Romanian Cristian Manea join Chelsea on a five-year deal when the transfer window opens again this summer, with the Blues paying £2.3 million for his signature. The 17-year old fullback would then depart on loan, either for a cash strapped side in Spain, or to Chelsea's Netherlands-based academy, Vitesse Arnhem.

The Blues were linked to Manea several times this season, and as a low cost, high upside signing, he always seemed to be a logical target given recent sign and loan acquisitions. Whether or not he ever gets a shot in London will depend how the next several seasons on loan go, but even if his development stalls, it's hard to find too much fault in a move at this cost.