Chelsea ready to pay £30m for Fulham sensation

Chelsea are prepared to pay around £30 million to sign highly-rated Fulham midfielder Luke Harris in January, The Mirror reports.

The 17-year-old scored a hat-trick in an Under 21 game between Fulham and Chelsea last month. The Blues have since been monitoring him.

It is now reported that talks are underway between the clubs over a transfer, and the Blues are willing to pay £25 million up front for Harris.

A further £5m could be settled in the form of add-ons. Chelsea want the deal concluded in January in order to avoid fresh interest from elsewhere.

Liverpool have done business with the Cottagers in the past, having signed both Harvey Elliot and Fabio Carvalho at the start of their careers.

Chelsea are well aware of the good relationship between the clubs, and they are now moving fast to land Harris ahead of the FA Cup holders.

The Blues are planning for the future, having signed the likes of Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Slonina this summer.