Chelsea’s proposed deal to sign USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams from Leeds United is off.
The Premier League club had been set to trigger the £20million ($25.5m) clause in Adams’ contract following Leeds’ relegation to the Championship.
The 24-year-old had been in London to finalise the move, with personal terms not expected to be an issue, but Adams was instead returning to Leeds on Friday afternoon.
Chelsea have been pursuing midfielders all summer, having seen Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek leave the club since the end of last season.
Brighton’s Moises Caicedo has been their top target, but though Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign him for a British record £110m ($140m), Chelsea could yet bid again.
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Asked about the Ecuador international at his press conference on Friday, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said: “I think you know me very well, I don’t talk about players that don’t belong to us. I am so respectful.”
When asked if there is an area of the team he is looking to improve, the Argentine added: “Yes, but I think it is obvious, no? When you look at the squad and compare with last season, too many midfielders have left.
“We have different options, we are working hard, to see what can really happen.”
Chelsea also hold an interest in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and tabled a £48m offer for him earlier this week.
Adams, who previously drew interest from Aston Villa, played 24 times for Leeds last season with injury ruling him out of the beginning of their Championship campaign so far.
He has 36 caps for the USMNT and captained them at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
GO DEEPER
Why ambitious Premier League clubs want to sign Tyler Adams
(Photo: Juan Luis Diaz/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
