FIFA Club World Cup winners Chelsea face London rivals Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Enzo Maresca’s side lifted the Europa Conference League in May and followed that success up by triumphing in the Club World Cup in the United States earlier this month.
The Italian will now guide his side into the Champions League next term after their fourth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, and the Blues will also be Club World Cup champions for at least the next four years.
Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market so far this summer, with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro among those to have arrived at Stamford Bridge.
Now, it appears that they are closing in on another summer signing.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the London giants are very close to completing the signing of defender Jorrel Hato from Dutch side Ajax.
It is claimed that the Blues are in the closing stages of negotiations with their Eredivisie counterparts, following further talks on Tuesday.
Hato could soon be on his way to Chelsea (Photo: Sipa US/Alamy)
Hato, 19, is said to be waiting to be given the green light by his current side to go and sign with Chelsea.
The teenager is primarily a left-back but is also capable of playing as a central defender, meaning he will likely provide cover for Marc Cucurella on the left side of defence as well as providing competition for places in the centre.
The Dutchman has played more than 110 times for the Amsterdam giants since progressing into the first team, but he appears to now be on the verge of a move to London.
Hato is under contract with his boyhood club until the end of the 2027/28 season, but Romano suggests that he will join Chelsea in the coming days and become the Blues’ sixth signing of the summer.