Chelsea monitoring Ajax youngster Ryan Gravenberch

Chelsea have deployed scouts to monitor the form of Ajax Amsterdam youth player Ryan Gravenberch with a view to making a transfer move next year. The highly-rated 17-year-old has caught the eye at the Dutch side and has already made his first-team debut.

It is understood that Chelsea have deployed their top scout to monitor the attacking midfielder in action and have sent back glowing reports to the club's board.

Gravenberch, who is of Surinamese descent, joined Ajax back in 2010 and has since gone on to appear for Ajax's youth club Jong Ajax before making the step up to the first-team. Gravenberch is also a regular for the Dutch under-19 squad, having appeared for both the under-16 and under-17 teams.

Chelsea are confident that a deal can be agreed in advance of next year, but the player will remain with Ajax for the next 12 months. The Blues are also set to beat Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and Premier League rivals Man Utd to the signing of Gravenberch, with the youngster also being given the option to move to Chelsea feeder club Vitesse Arnhem.