Leeds United are plotting a raid on Chelsea to sign rising star Ike Ugbo on a season-long loan, according to All Nigeria Soccer.
The African football site claim that Leeds are one of four clubs in the race to take the centre-forward, 18, for the 2017-18 season after the Premier League giants granted permission for him to join a Championship club.
All Nigeria Soccer report that the England Under-20 international, who is of Nigerian descent, is in line to temporarily exit Chelsea by the end of the month.
It is said that second-tier English clubs Leeds, Wolves, Bristol City are all keeping tabs on Ugbo along with Dutch Eredivisie club Vitesse Arnhem, who have strong links to Chelsea.
The Premier League champions have given the green light for the teenager to find a new club where he can play regular first-team football.
He has been training with the Chelsea loan group in recent days, rather than the senior squad or the Under-23s, in a clear indication that the foundations are being laid for a temporary move.
Ugbo has demonstrated his potential in the Chelsea Under-23s, scoring 13 goals in 29 matches for the age-group side.
Leeds have already signed one centre-forward this week after completing the permanent transfer of Caleb Ekuban, 23, from Italian top-flight club Chievo.
They also have 30-goal 2016-17 top scorer Chris Wood, Marcus Antonsson and Souleymane Doukara on their books.
It was reported on Thursday that 23-year-old Lee Erwin has been made available for a free transfer after being omitted from the squad that departs on Friday for a three-match pre-season tour to Austria.